:f.m. 


"^^y^'X: 


'     LIBRARY 

OF   TUE 

Theological   Seminary, 


T-NT/->.-rr"-r./^Ts.T       1\.T      T 


BX  6217  .F84  1840 
Fuller,  Andrew,  1754-1815 
Backslider 


B6d^^  ^^ :i.zzzr^ 


W"n 


THE    BACKSLIDER 


BY  ANDREW  FULLER. 


WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION 

BY   THE 

REV.    JOHN    ANGELL    JAMES. 


I  went  by  the  field  of  the  slothful,  and  by  the  vineyard  of  the 
man  void  of  understanding ;  and  lo !  it  was  all  grown  over  with 
thorns;  nettles  had  covered  the  face  thereof,  and  the  stone-wall 
thereof  was  brolcen  down.  Then  I  saw,  and  considered  it  well; 
I  looked  upon  it  and  received  instruction. — Solomon. 


PDBLTSMED  BY   THE 

AMERICAN  TRACT    SOCIETY, 

150   NASSAU-STREET,    NEW-YOKK. 


D.  FansDaw,  I'rinler. 


CONTENTS 


PAGE. 

Introduction  by  Rev.  J.  A.  James  ...  5 

Author's  Preface   .    .                      ...  9 

On  the  general  nature  and  particular 

SPECIES  of  backsliding 15 

On   the   SYMPTOMS    OF  A  BACKSLIDING   SPIRIT  46 

On  the  INJURIOUS  and  dangerous  EFFECTS 
OF  SIN  LYING  UPON  THE  CONSCIENCE  UN- 
LAMENTED        65 

On   THE   MEANS    OF   RECOVERY 87 


INTRODUCTION. 


Andrew  Fuller  was,  in  my  opinion,  one  of 
the  greatest  theologians,  which  modern  times, 
or  any  times  have  produced,  and  his  writings 
are  an  almost  inexhaustible  mine  of  doctrinal, 
practical,  and  experimental  truth,  which  every 
christian  and  especially  every  minister,  would 
do  well  to  explore.  No  man  better  understood 
the  bible,  or  the  human  heart  both  in  its  unre- 
newed and  its  regenerate  state.  Among  all  his 
various  practical  treatises,  there  are  few,  if  any, 
of  greater  value  than  that  on  backsliding. 
Like  a  most  skilful  physician,  he  explains,  with 
singular  ability,  the  nature  of  the  disease,  lays 
down  the  symptoms  of  it,  and  prescribes  the 
method  of  recovery. 

Backsliding  among  professing  christians,  if 

we  include,  as  we  ought  to  do,  in  this  term,  the 

secret  departure  of  the  heart  from  God,  as  well 

as  the  open  sins  of  the  life,  is  a  state  fearfully 

1* 


VI  INTRODUCTION. 

common.  How  many  are  there  in  all  our 
churches,  who  give  evidence,  not  to  be  doubted, 
of  having  lost  "  their  first  love."  Before  they 
were  received  into  fellowship,  the  salvation  of 
their  soul  seemed  to  be  indeed  the  only  one  thing 
needful  with  them,  and  it  was  followed  with  a 
solicitude,  diligence,  and  earnestness,  that  per- 
mitted none  to  question  their  sincerity,  or  to 
hesitate  on  the  propriety  of  admitting  them  to 
the  church.  For  awhile  they  "  ran  well,"  and 
maintained  their  profession  not  only  with  exter- 
nal consistency,  but  as  far  as  we  could  judge, 
with  inward  spirituality.  Soon,  however,  the 
symptoms  of  declension  were  but  too  evident,  in 
a  diminished  interest  on  the  subject  of  religion, 
and  in  a  less  frequent  attendance  on  its  public 
ordinances,  till  at  length,  nothing  but  the  form 
of  godliness  remained,  and  even  that  so  muti- 
lated or  wasted,  as  to  have  lost  all  its  symmetry 
as  well  as  its  vitality.  This  is  the  kind  of  back- 
sliding which  is  most  prevalent,  and  against 
which  the  christians  of  the  present  day  of  easy 
and  unmolested  profession,  need  to  be  cautioned. 
Immoralities  rarely  occur    in  comparison  with 


INTRODUCTION.  Vll 

the  predominance  of  a  worldly  spirit.  Many- 
are  going  forward  unobserved  by  others,  perhaps 
scarcely  suspected  by  themselves,  in  the  back- 
slider's path.  Living  in  an  age  of  commercial 
and  political  excitement,  and  acted  upon  by  sur- 
rounding scenes,  they  have  little  time  and  less 
inclination  for  those  exercises  of  devotion,  self- 
examination,  and  watchfulness,  which  at  all 
times  are  necessary,  and  especially  so  in  the 
present,  for  maintaining  or  regaining  the  vitality 
of  religion ;  and  thus  they  slide  down  into  a 
lukewarm  state,  and  settle  at  length  in  a  confirm- 
ed departure  from  God. 

For  such  persons,  as  well  as  for  those  who 
have  departed  from  God  in  life,  as  well  as  in 
heart,  the  treatise  of  Mr.  Fuller  is  admirably 
adapted :  it  is  faithful,  searching,  tender,  and 
discriminating.  The  author  handles  his  patient 
with  a  kind  gentleness,  yet  probes  the  disease 
to  the  bottom  ;  and  with  vigilant  assiduity  la- 
bours to  restore  him  to  sound  health  ;  carefully 
warning  him,  at  the  same  time,  against  all  de- 
ceptive  indications  of  real  cure. 

Nor  is  it  only  for  him  who  is  a  backslider 


Vlll  INTKODUCTI037. 

that  this  treatise  is  designed,  or  valuable,  but 
for  him  who  may  become  one.  And  who  may 
not  ?  "  Let  him  that  thinketh  he  standeth,  take 
heed  lest  he  fall."  They  who  are  going,  or  are 
gone  back,  appeared  once  to  be  advancing.  We 
live  in  a  world  of  trials ;  and  temptation,  like 
the  wind,  comes  to  all,  and  from  every  quarter. 
The  way  not  to  backslide,  is  to  be  afraid  of  it. 
Self-confidence  has  proved,  in  innumerable  cases, 
to  be  the  forerunner  of  self-destruction.  This 
little  work  may  be  read  by  all  professors  with 
great  advantage,  if  perused  in  a  spirit  of  prayer 
and  holy  jealousy.  I  am  well  pleased  that  it  is 
republished  in  a  separate  form ;  most  cordially 
recommend  it,  and  shall  be  happy  to  know  it 
has  obtained  a  wide  circulation. 

J.  A.  JAMES. 


EdgbastoUf  near  Birminghamt 
July,  1840. 


AUTHOR'S    PREFACE. 


The  following  pages  were  occasioned  by  the 
writer's  observing  several  persons  of  whom  he 
had  formerly  entertained  a  favourable  opinion, 
and  with  whom  he  had  walked  in  christian  fel- 
lowship, having  fallen,  either  from  the  doctrine, 
or  practice  of  pure  religion.  A  view  of  their 
unhappy  condition  made  a  deep  impression  upon 
his  mind.  If  he  has  been  enabled  to  describe 
the  case  of  a  backslider  to  any  good  purpose,  it 
has  been  chiefly  owing  to  this  circumstance. 
He  hopes  that,  though  it  was  written  with  a 
special  eye  to  a  few,  it  may  yet  be  useful  to 
many. 


THE 
BACKSLIDER. 


Whether  the  present  age  be  worse  than  others 
which  have  preceded  it,  I  shall  not  determine ; 
but  this  is  manifest,  that  it  abounds  not  only  in 
infidelity  and  profligacy,  but  with  great  num- 
bers of  loose  characters  among  professing  chris- 
tians. It  is  true  there  are  some  eminently  zea- 
lous and  spiritual,  perhaps  as  much  so  as  at 
almost  any  former  period  ;  the  disinterested 
concern  which  has  appeared  for  the  diffusion 
of  evangelical  religion  is  doubtless  a  hopeful 
feature  of  our  times  :  yet  it  is  no  less  evident 
that  others  are  in  a  sad  degree  conformed  to  this 


12  GENERAL    NATURE 

world,  instead  of  being  transformed  by  the  re- 
newing of  their  minds.  Even  of  those  who 
retain  a  decency  of  character,  many  are  sunk 
into  a  Laodicean  lukewarmness.  Professors  are 
continually  falling  away  from  Christ ;  either 
totally,  so  as  to  walk  no  more  with  him, or  par- 
tially, so  as  greatly  to  dishonour  his  name 
Alas,  how  many  characters  of  this  description 
are  to  be  found  in  our  congregations  !  If  we  only 
review  the  progress  of  things  for  twenty  or  thirty 
years  past,  we  shall  perceive  many  who  once 
bid  fair  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  now  fallen  a 
prey  to  the  temptations  of  the  world.  Like  the 
blossoms  of  the  spring,  they  for  a  time  excited 
our  hopes  :  but  a  blight  has  succeeded  :  the 
blossom  has  gone  up  as  the  dust,  and  the  root  in 
many  cases  appears  to  be  rottenness. 

It  is  one  important  branch  of  the  work  of  a 
faithful  pastor  to  strengthen  the  diseased,  to 
heal  the  sick,  to  bind  up  the  broken,  to  bring 


OF   BACKSLIDING.  13 

again  that  which  is  driven  away,  and  to  seek 
that  which  is  lost.*  If  these  pages  shall  fall 
into  the  hands  of  but  a  few  of  the  above  de- 
scription, and  contribute  in  any  degree  to  their 
recovery  from  the  snare  of  the  devil,  the  writer 
will  be  amply  rewarded.  It  is  a  pleasure  to  re- 
cover any  sinner  from  the  error  of  his  way  ;  but 
much  more  those  of  whom  we  once  thought  fa- 
vourably. The  place  which  they  formerly  oc- 
cupied in  our  esteem,  our  hopes,  and  our  social 
exercises,  now  seems  to  be  a  kind  of  chasm, 
which  can  only  be  filled  up  by  their  return  to 
God.  If  a  child  depart  from  his  father's  house, 
and  plunge  into  profligacy  and  ruin,  the  father 
may  have  other  children,  and  may  love  them  ; 
but  none  of  them  can  heal  his  wound,  nor  any 
thing  satisfy  him,  but  the  return  of  Jiim  who  was 
lost. 

*  Ezek.  xxxiv.  4. 
2 


14  GENERAL   3VATURE,   ETC. 

In  pursuit  of  this  desirable  object,  I  shall  de- 
scribe the  nature  and  different  species  of  back- 
sliding from  God — notice  the  symptoms  of  it — 
trace  its  injurious  and  dangerous  effects — and 
point  out  the  means  of  recovery. 


OF  BACKSLIDING.  15 


ON   THE  GENERAL    NATURE    AND  DIFFER. 
ENT  SPECIES   OF   BACKSLIDING. 

All  backsliding  from  God  originates  in  a  de- 
parture of  heart  from  him  :  herein  consists  the 
essence  and  the  evil  of  it.  Thine  oicn  wicked- 
ness shall  correct  thee,  and  thy  hackslidings  shall 
reprove  thee  :  know,  therefore,  and  see,  that  it  is  an 
evil  thing  and  hitter,  that  thou  hast  forsaken 
THE  lord  thy  god,  and  that  my  fear  is  not  in 
thee,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts.  But  the  degrees  of 
this  sin,  and  the  modes  in  which  it  operates,  are 
various. 

The  backsliding  of  some  is  total. — After 
having  made  a  profession  of  the  true  religion, 
they  apostatize  from  it.  I  am  aware  it  is  com- 
mon to  consider  a  backslider  as  being  a  good 
man,  though  in  a  bad  state  of  mind  :  but  the 
scriptures  do  not  confine  the  term  to  this  appli- 


16  GENERAL  NATURE 

cation.  Those  who  are  addressed  in  the  pas- 
sage just  quoted,  had  not  the  fear  of  God  in  them^ 
which  can  never  be  said  of  a  good  man.  Back- 
sliding, it  is  true,  always  supposes  a  profession 
of  the  true  religion ;  but  it  does  not  necessarily 
suppose  the  existence  of  the  thing  professed. 
There  is  a  perpetual  backsUdi?ig,  and  a  draio- 
ing  hack  unto  perdition.*  Such  characters 
were  Saul,  and  Ahithophel,  and  Judas.  Many 
persons  who  have  in  a  great  degree  declined  the 
practice  of  religion,  yet  comfort  themselves 
with  an  idea  that  they  shall  be  brought  to  re- 
pentance before  they  die ;  but  this  is  presump- 
tuously tempting  God.  Whosoever  plunges  in 
this  gulph,  or  continues  easy  in  it,  under  an  idea 
of  being  recovered  by  repentance,  may  find  him- 
self mistaken.  Both  Peter  and  Judas  went  in  ; 
but  only  one  of  them  came  out !     There  is  rea- 

*  Jer.  viii.  5.     Heb.  x.   39. 


OF   BACKSLIDING.  17 

son  to  fear  that  thousands  of  professors  are  now 
lifting  up  their  eyes  in  torment,  who  in  this 
world  reckoned  themselves  good  men  ;  who  con- 
sidered their  sins  as  pardonable  errors,  and  laid 
their  accounts  with  being  brought  to  repentance : 
out  ere  they  were  aware,  the  bridegroom  came, 
and  they  were  not  ready  to  meet  him ! 

The  nature  and  deadly  tendency  of  sin  is  the 
same  in  itself,  whether  in  a  wicked  or  in  a  right- 
eous man  :  there  is  an  important  difference,  how- 
ever, between  the  backsliding  of  the  one,  and 
that  of  the  other.  That  of  the  hypocrite  arises 
from  his  having  no  root  in  himself:  therefore 
it  is  that  in  time  of  temptation  he  falleth  away  : 
but  that  of  the  sincere  christian  respects  the  cul- 
ture of  the  branch,  and  is  owing  to  unwatchful- 
ness  or  remissness  in  duty.  The  first,  in  turning 
back,  returns  to  a  course  which  his  heart  always 
preferred :  the  last,  though  in  what  he  does  he 
is  not  absolutely  involuntary,  for  then  it  were 
2" 


18  GENERAL    NATURE 

innocent :  yet  it  is  not  with  a  full  or  perfect 
consent  of  will.  He  does  not  sin  wilfully  :  that 
which  he  does  he  allows  not :  it  is  against  the 
habitual  disposition  of  his  soul :  he  is  not  him- 
self,  as  we  should  say,  while  so  acting.*  Final- 
ly, the  one,  were  it  not  for  the  remorse  of  con- 
science  which  may  continue  to  haunt  him,  and 
disturb  his  peace,  would  be  in  his  element  in 
having  made  a  full  riddance  of  religion  :  but 
this  is  not  the  case  with  the  other.  A  life  of 
deviation  and  distance  from  God  is  not  his  ele- 


*  It  is  usual  to  denominate  a  character  by  his  habitual 
or  ruling  disposition,  and  not  by  occasional  deviations 
from  it.  Thus,  when  we  liear  of  him  who  was  famed 
for  meekness,  speaking  unadvisedly  with  his  lips,  we  say 
this  was  not  Moses  ;  or  of  him  who  was  distinguished  for 
his  courageous  avowal  of  his  Lord,  denying  with  oaths 
that  he  knew  him,  we  say  this  was  not  Peter.  Both 
these  great  characters  in  these  instances  acted  beside 
themselves  ;  it  was  not  them,  as  it  were,  but  sin  that  dwelt 
m  fbem.     See  Heb.  x.  26.     Rom.  vii.  15—25. 


OF   BACKSLIDING.  19 

ment,  nor  can  he  enjoy  himself  in  it.  This  dif- 
ference is  remarkably  exemplified  in  the  cases 
of  S-aul  and  David.  The  religion  of  the  former 
never  appears  to  have  fitted  him  :  he  was  con- 
tinually acting  awkwardly  with  it,  and  presently 
threw  it  aside.  If,  in  addition  to  this,  he  could 
have  forgotten  it,  and  lived  without  being  terri- 
fied by  the  apprehension  of  consequences,  he 
would  doubtless  have  been  much  the  happier  for 
having  cast  it  off.  But  when  the  latter  had  sin- 
ned, he  was  not  like  the  raven  which  went  forth 
of  the  ark,  and  came  no  more  :  but  like  the  dove 
which  could  find  no  rest  for  the  sole  of  her  foot 
till  she  returned.  The  thirty-second  and  thirty- 
eighth  psalms  express  the  wretchedness  of  his 
Dtiind  till  he  confessed  his  sin,  and  obtained 
mercy. 

But  whatever  difference  there  be  between  a 
partial  and  a  total  departure  from  God,  it  will  be 
difficult,  if  not  impossible,  for  the  person  himself 


20  GENERAL    NATURE 

at  the  time  to  perceive  it.  So  long  as  any  man 
continues  in  a  backsliding  state,  the  reality  of 
his  religion  must  remain  uncertain.  He  may  not 
be  without  hope,  nor  ought  he  to  be  without  fear. 
The  scriptures  know  nothing  of  that  kind  of 
confidence  which  renders  men  easy  in  their  sins. 
Paul  stood  in  douht  of  the  Galatians,  and  they 
ought  to  have  stood  in  doubt  of  themselves. — 
The  species  of  backsliding  are  various :  some 
respect  doctrine,  others  practice  ;  but  all  are  the 
operations  of  a  heart  departing  from  the  living 
God. 

In  some  a  backsliding  spirit  first  appears  by 

A  RELINQUISHMENT  OF   EVANGELICAL    DOCTRINE 

— Where  truth  is  treated  as  a  matter  of  specu- 
lation,  or  as  an  opinion  of  no  great  moment,  it 
is  not  held  fast ;  and  where  this  is  the  case,  it  is 
easily  surrendered.  If  a  plausible  book,  in  favour 
of  deism,  or  any  of  those  vain  systems  which 
nearly  approach  it,  fall  in  their  way,  they  are 


OF    BACKSLIDING.  21 

ready  to  yield  ;  and  by  reading  the  performance 
a  second  time,  or  conversing  with  a  person  who 
favours  it,  they  make  shipwreck  of  their  faith, 
and  are  driven  on  the  rocks  of  infideUty.  Such 
was  the  process  in  the  days  of  the  apostles  ; 
those  who  received  not  the  love  of  the  truth,  were 
given  up  to  believe  a  lie."^- 

If  these  departures  from  evangelical  princi- 
ples were  closely  examined,  it  would  be  found 
that  they  were  preceded  by  a  neglect  of  private 
prayer,  watchfulness,  self-diffidence,  and  walk- 
ing humbly  with  God  ;  and  every  one  may  per- 
ceive that  they  are  followed  w^ith  similar  effects. 
It  has  been  acknowledged  by  some  who  have  em- 
braced the  Socinian  system,  that  since  they  en- 
tertained those  views  they  had  lost  even  the  gift 
of  prayer.  Perhaps  they  might  draw  up  and 
read  an  address  to  the  Deity  ;  but  they  could  not 


»  2  Thess.  ii.  10.  11. 


22  PARTICULAR    SPECIES 

pray.  Where  the  principles  of  the  gospel  are 
abandoned,  the  spirit  of  prayer,  and  of  all  close 
walking  with  God,  will  go  with  it.  The  confes- 
sion of  Peter,  that  Jesus  ivas  the  Christ,  the  son 
of  God,  is  thought  to  be  that  which  our  Lord  de- 
nominates the  rock  on  which  he  would  build  his 
church.  We  are  sure  that  the  belief  of  this  ar- 
ticle of  faith  was  required  as  a  kind  of  test  of 
Christianity  ;  and  who  can  look  into  the  chris- 
tian world  with  attention,  and  not  perceive  that 
it  still  continues  a  sort  of  key-stone  to  the  build- 
ing ?  If  this  give  way,  the  fabric  falls.  Back- 
slidings  of  this  nature  are  infinitely  dangerous. 
He  that  declines  in  holy  practice  has  to  labour 
against  the  remonstrances  of  conscience  :  but 
he  that  brings  himself  to  think  lightly  of  sin, 
and  meanly  of  the  Saviour  (which  is  what  every 
false  system  of  religion  teaches)  has  gone  far 
towards  silencing  the  accusations  of  this  un- 
pleasant  monitor.     He  is  upon  good  terms  with 


OF    BACKSLIDING.  23 

himself.  The  disorder  of  his  soul  is  deep  ;  but 
it  is  of  a  flattering  nature.  The  declension  of 
serious  religion  in  him  is  no  less  apparent  to 
others^  than  that  of  the  constitution  by  a  con- 
suming hectic  ;  yet,  as  is  common  in  such  cases, 
the  person  himself  thinks  he  shall  do  well.  In 
short,  the  light  which  is  in  the?n  is  darkness  ;  and 
this  is  the  greatest  of  all  darkness  ! 

In  others  a  departure  of  heart  from  God  is 
followed  by  falling  into  some  gross  immora- 
LiTY. — There  are  instances  in  which  a  sudden 
misconduct  of  this  sort  has  been  overruled  for 
the  awakening  of  the  mind  from  its  stupor,  and 
divesting  it  of  its  self-confidence.  It  was  mani- 
festly thus  with  the  apostle  Peter.  The  stum- 
bling of  such  persons  is  not  that  they  should 
fall ;  but  rather  that  they  should  stand  with 
greater  care  and  firmness.  But  the  greatest 
danger  arises  from  those  cases  where  some  lust 
of  the  flesh  has  gradually  obtained  an  ascen- 


24  PAETICULAR   SPECIES 

dancy  over  the  heart ;  so  that  when  the  subject 
of  it  falls  in  the  eyes  of  the  world,  it  is  only 
appearing  to  be  what  he  has  long  been  in  secret ; 
and  the  first  wrong  step  that  he  makes,  instead 
of  alarming  him,  and  occasioning  his  going 
aside  to  weep  bitterly,  is  only  the  prelude  of  a 
succession  of  others.  This  is  not  the  fall  of 
one  who  is  overtaken  in  a  fault ;  but  of  one  who 
is  entangled  in  the  net  of  his  ov/n  corruptions. 
One  sin  prepares  the  way  for  another.  Like 
the  insect  infolded  in  the  spider's  web,  he  loses 
all  power  of  resistance,  and  falls  a  prey  to  the 
destroyer.  Some  have  fallen  sacrifices  to  in- 
temperance,  not  by  being  overtaken  in  a  single 
act  of  intoxication  ;  but  by  contracting  a  habit 
of  hard  drinking.  First,  it  was  indulged  in 
private,  perhaps  under  some  outward  trouble, 
instead  of  carrying  it  to  a  throne  of  grace.  In 
a  little  time  its  demands  increased.  At  length, 
it  could  no  longer  be  kept  a  secret :  reason  was 


OF   BACKSLIDING.  25 

enslaved  to  sense,  and  the  christian  professor 
sunk  below  the  man  !  Others  have  indulged  in 
impurity.  Intimacies  which  may  have  arisen 
from  nothing  worse  than  a  few  improper  fami- 
liarities; yea,  which  in  some  instances  have 
originated  in  religion  itself,  through  the  corrupt 
propensities  of  the  human  heart,  which  turns 
everything  it  touches  into  poison,  have  been 
known  to  produce  the  most  fatal  effects.  Pas- 
sions of  this  sort  once  kindled  will  soon  possess 
all  the  soul.  They  leave  no  room  for  anything 
that  should  resist  them :  not  only  consuming 
every  spiritual  desire  and  holy  thought,  but  ba- 
nishing from  the  mind  even  the  sober  dictates 
of  reason  ;  reducing  the  most  exalted  characters 
to  the  rank  of  fools  in  Israel.  Near  these  rocks 
are  seen  many  a  floating  wreck  ;  and  among 
these  quicksands  numbers,  who  once  bid  fair 
for  the  haven  of  everlasting  life. 

Another  way  in  which  a  departure  from  God 
3 


26  PARTICULAR    SPECIES 

very  often  operates,  is,  by  the  love  of  the 
WORLD. — It  is  not  uncommon  for  persons  who 
once  appeared  to  be  zealous,  affectionate,  and 
devoted  to  God,  when  they  come  to  be  settled 
in  life,  and  to  enter  into  its  necessary  avoca- 
tions,  to  lose  all  heart  for  religion,  and  take 
no  delight  in  any  thing  but  saving  money. 
This,  it  is  true,  is  not  generally  considered  by 
the  world  as  disreputable  :  on  the  contrary,  pro- 
vided we  be  fair  in  our  dealings,  it  is  reckoned 
a  mark  of  wisdom.  Men  will  praise  thee  when 
thou  doest  well  for  thyself.  Such  a  one,  say 
they,  is  a  discreet  man,  and  one  that  knows 
how  to  secure  the  mam  chance.  Yet  the  scrip- 
tures are  very  decisive  against  such  characters. 
This  is  the  sin  which  they  denominate  the  lust 
of  the  eye.^  The  cares,  and  riches,  and  plea- 
sures of  this  life,  are  described  as  choking  the 

*  1  John  ii.  16. 


OF    BACKSLIDING.  27 

v)ord,  and  rendering  it  unfruitful.  It  is  worthy 
of  special  notice,  that  when  our  Lord  had  warn- 
ed  his  followers  to  take  heed  and  beware  of  cove- 
tousnesSf  the  example  which  he  gives  of  this 
sin,  is  not  of  one  that  was  a  plunderer  of  other 
men's  property,  an  unfair  dealer,  or  an  oppressor 
of  the  poor  ;  but  of  a  certain  rich  ma7i  whose 
ground  brought  forth  plentifully ;  and  whose  only 
object  appeared  to  be,  first  to  acquire  a  hand- 
some fortune,  and  then  to  retire  from  business 
and  live  at  his  ease.*  This  also  appears  to  be 
the  character  which  is  blessed  by  wicked  men 
but  abhorred  of  God.'\  A  man  who  deals  un- 
fairly with  men,  gains  not  their  blessing,  but 
their  curse.  Men  in  general  regard  only  them, 
selves :  so  long,  therefore,  as  any  person  deals 
justly  with  them,  they  care  not  what  his  con- 
duct is   towards  God.     But  it   is   affecting   to 

*  Luke  xii.  15—21.  t  Ps.  x.  3. 


29  PARTICULAR    Sl'SCIES 

think,  that  the  very  character  which  they  bless 
and  envy,  God  abhors.  The  decision  of  heaven 
is  nothing  less  than  this.  If  any  man  love  the 
world,  the  love  of  the  Father  is  not  in  him  V^  So 
far  is  the  love  of  the  world  from  being  the  less 
dano;erous  on  account  of  its  fallinf?  so  little  un- 
der  human  censure,  that  it  is  the  more  so.  If 
we  be  guilty  of  anything  which  exposes  us  to 
the  reproach  of  mankind,  such  reproach  may 
assist  the  remonstrances  of  conscience,  and  of 
God,  in  carrying  conviction  to  our  bosoms  ;  but 
of  that  for  which  the  world  acquits  us,  we  shall 
be  exceedingly  disposed  to  acquit  ourselves. 

It  has  long  appeared  to  me  that  this  species 
of  covetousness  will,  in  all  probability,  prove  the 
eternal  overthrow  of  more  characters  among 
professing  people,  than  almost  any  other  sin  ; 
and  this  because  it  is  almost  the  only  sin  which 

*  1  John  ii.  15. 


OF   BACKSLIDING.  29 

may  be  indulged,  and  a  profession  of  religion  at 
the  same  time  supported.     If  a  man  be  a  drunk- 
ard, a  fornicator,  an  adulterer,  or  a  liar ;  if  he 
rob  his  neighbour,  oppress  the  poor,  or  deal  un- 
justly, he  must  give  up  his  pretences  to  religion  ; 
or  if  not,  his  religious  connexions,  if  they  are 
worthy  of  being  so  denominated,  will  give  him 
up :  but  he   may  love  the  world,  and  the   things 
of  the  world,  and  at  the  same  time  retain  his 
character.     If  the  depravity  of  the  human  heart 
be  not  subdued  by  the  grace  of  God,  it  will  ope- 
rate.    If  a  dam  be  placed  across  some  of  its 
ordinary   channels,    it   will   flow   with   greater 
depth  and  rapidity  in  those  which  remain.     It 
is  thus,  perhaps,  that  avarice   is  most  prevalent 
in  old  age,  when  the  power  of  pursuing  other 
vices  has  in  a  great   measure   subsided.     And 
thus  it  is  with  religious  professors  whose  hearts 
are  not   right  with  God.     They  cannot  figure 
away  with  the  profane,  or  indulge  in  gross  im. 
3* 


i 


30  PARTICULAR    SPECIES 

moralities :  but  they  can  love  the  world  su- 
premely, to  the  neglect  of  God,  and  be  scarcely 
amenable  to  human  judgment. 

And  whatever  may  prove  the  overthrow  of 
a  mere  professor,  may  be  a  temptation  to  a  good 
man,  and  greatly  injure  his  soul.  Of  this  the 
case  of  Lot,  when  he  parted  with  Abraham,  fur- 
nishes an  aflecting  example.  When  a  situation 
was  put  to  his  choice,  he  lifted  up  his  eyes  and 
heheld  the  plain  of  Jordan,  that  it  was  well  water- 
ed everywhere  ;  and  he  took  up  his  residence  in 
Sodom.  He  had  better  have  dwelt  in  a  wilder- 
ness, than  among  that  debauched  people  :  but 
he  consulted  worldly  advantages,  and  the  spi- 
ritual  well-being  of  his  family  was  overlooked. 
And  what  was  the  consequence  ?  It  is  true,  he 
was  a  righteous  man,  and  his  righteous  soul  was 
grieved  with  the  filthy  conversation  of  the  wick- 
ed from  day  to  day  :  but  he  could  have  very 
little  influence  over  them,  while  they,  on  the 


OP   BACKSLIDING.  31 

contrary,  found  means  of  communicating  their 
odious  vices  to  his  family.  Some  of  his  daugh- 
ters appear  to  have  been  married  while  in  So- 
dom,  and  when  the  city  was  to  be  destroyed, 
neither  they  nor  their  husbands  could  be  per- 
suaded to  make  their  escape,  and  so  probably 
perished  in  the  overthrow.  The  heart  of  his 
wife  was  so  attached,  it  seems,  to  what  she  had 
left  behind,  that  she  must  needs  look  hack ;  for 
which  she  was  rendered  a  monument  of  divine 
displeasure.  And  as  to  his  two  single  daugh- 
ters, though  they  had  escaped  with  him  to  the 
mountain,  yet  they  had  learnt  so  much  the  ways 
of  Sodom,  as  to  cover  his  old  age  with  infamy. 
This,  together  with  the  loss  of  all  his  substance, 
were  the  fruits  of  the  well-watered  plain,  which 
he  had  fixed  his  eyes  upon,  to  the  neglect  of  his 
spiritual  interest.  Yet  how  frequently  is  the 
same  part  acted  over  again.  In  the  choice  of 
settlements  for  ourselves,  or  our  children,  how 


32  PARTICULAR    SPECIES 

common  is  it  to  overlook  the  immorality  of  the 
place,  the  irreligiousness  of  the  connexions,  and 
the  want  of  a  gospel  rninistry  ;  and  to  direct 
our  inquiries  only  to  temporal  advantages.  From 
the  same  principle  also  many  have  dealt  largely 
in  speculation,  and  plunged  into  engagements 
far  beyond  their  circumstances.  The  hope  of 
making  a  fortune,  as  it  is  termed,  by  some  lucky 
hit,  draws  them  into  measures  which  ruin  not 
only  themselves,  but  many  that  confide  in  them. 
That  mere  worldly  men  should  act  in  this  man- 
ner, is  not  a  matter  of  surprise ;  but  that  men 
professing  to  fear  God  should  imitate  them — this 
is  a  lamentation,  and  shall  be  for  a  lamentation. 

Farther,  many  have  fallen  sacrifices  not  only 
to  the  love  of  the  world,  but  to  a  conformity 
TO  IT. — These  are  not  the  same  thing,  though 
frequently  found  in  the  same  person.  The  ob- 
ject  of  the  one  is  principally  the  acquisition  of 
wealth  ;  the  other  respects  the  manner  of  spend- 


OF   BACKSLIDING.  3S 

ing  it.  That  is  often  penurious  ;  this  wishes  to 
cut  a  figure,  and  to  appear  like  people  of  fashion. 
The  former  is  the  lust  of  the  eye ;  the  latter  is 
the  pride  of  Ufe.  We  need  not  affect  singulari- 
ty in  things  indifferent ;  but  to  engage  in  the 
chase  of  fashionable  appearance,  is  not  only  an 
indication  of  a  vain  and  little  mind,  but  is  cer- 
tainly inconsistent  with  pressing  towards  the 
mark,  for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God 
in  Christ  Jesus.  The  desire  of  making  an  ap- 
pearance, has  ruined  many  people  in  their  cir. 
cumstances,  more  in  their  characters,  and  most 
in  their  souls.  We  may  flatter  ourselves  that 
we  can  pursue  these  things,  and  be  religious  at 
the  same  time  ;  but  it  is  a  mistake.  The  vani- 
ty of  mind  v/hich  they  cherish,  eats  up  every 
thing  of  a  humble,  serious,  and  holy  nature  ; 
rendering  us  an  easy  prey  to  temptation  when 
solicited  to  do  as  others  do  in  an  evil  thing.  A 
christian's  rule  is  the  revealed  will  of  God  :  and 


34  PARTICULAR     SPECIES 

where  the  customs  of  the  world  run  counter  to 
this,  it  is  his  business  to  withstand  them,  even 
though  in  so  doing  he  may  have  to  withstand  a 
multitude,  yea,  and  a  multitude  of  people  of 
fashion ;  but  if  we  feel  ambitious  of  their  ap- 
plause we  shall  not  be  able  to  endure  the  scorn 
which  a  singularity  of  conduct  will  draw  upon 
us.  Thus  we  shall  be  carried  down  the  stream 
by  the  course  of  this  world  ;  and  shall  either  fall 
into  the  gulph  of  perdition,  or  if  any  good  should 
be  found  in  us  towards  the  Lord  God  of  Israel, 
it  will  be  almost  indiscernible  and  useless.  In 
short,  such  characters  are  certainly  in  a  back- 
sliding state,  whether  they  be  ever  recovered 
from  it  or  not.  The  case  of  the  Laodiceans 
seems  to  approach  the  nearest  to  theirs  of  any- 
thing which  in  scripture  occurs  to  me.  They 
were  neither  cold  nor  hot ;  neither  the  decided 
friends  of  Christ,  nor  his  avowed  enemies  :  they 
could  not  relinquish  the  world  in  favour  of  re- 


OP   BACKSLIDING.  35 

ligion,  yet  neither  could  they  let  religion  alone. 
They  were  vainly  puffed  up  with  a  notion  of 
their  wealth,  their  wisdom,  and  their  finery  ; 
saying,  /  am  rich,  and  increased  in  goods,  and 
have  need  of  nothing ;  but  in  the  account  of  the 
faithful  and  true  Witness  they  were  poor,  and 
blind,  and  loretched,  and  'miserable,  and  naked.  Such 
a  decision  ought  to  make  us  tremble  at  the  thought 
of  aspiring  to  imitate  people  of  fashion. 

Finally,  there  is  another  species  of  departure 
from  God,  which  it  becomes  me  to  notice,  as 
many  in  the  present  age  have  fallen  sacrifices  to 
it.  This  is,  taking  an  eager  and  deep  inter- 
EST  IN  POLITICAL  DISPUTES. — The  state  of  things 
in  the  world  has  of  late  been  such  as  to  attract 
the  attention,  and  employ  the  conversation,  of 
all  classes  of  people.  As  success  has  attended 
each  of  the  contending  parties,  the  minds  of 
men,  according  to  their  views  and  attachments, 
have  been  affected  ;  some  with  fear  and  dismay, 


36  PAKTICULAR    SPECIES 

lest  their  party  interests  should  be  ruined  ;  others 
with  the  most  sanguine  hopes,  as  if  the  world 
were  shortly  to  be  emancipated,  war  abolished, 
and  all  degrees  of  men  rendered  happy.  This 
is  one  of  those  strong  winds  of  temptation  that 
occasionally  arise  in  the  troubled  ocean  of  this 
world,  against  which  those  who  are  bound  to  a 
better  had  need  be  on  their  guard.  The  flatter, 
ing  objects  held  out  by  revolutionists  were  so 
congenial  with  the  wishes  of  humanity,  and 
their  pretences  to  disinterested  philanthropy  so 
fair,  that  many  religious  people,  for  a  time,  for- 
got  their  own  principles.  While  gazing  on  the 
splendid  spectacle,  it  did  not  occur  to  them  that 
the  wicked^  whatever  name  they  assumed,  would 
do  wickedly.  By  observing  the  progress  of  things 
however,  they  have  been  convinced  that  all  hopes 
of  the  state  of  mankind  being  essentially  meli- 
orated by  any  means  short  of  the  prevalence  of 
the  gospel,  are  visionary,  and  have  accordingly 


OF   BACKSLIDING.  37 

turned  their  attention  to  better  things.  But 
some  have  gone  greater  lengths.  Their  whole 
heart  has  been  engaged  in  this  pursuit.  It  has 
been  their  meat  and  their  drink  :  and  this  being 
the  case,  it  is  not  surprising  that  they  have  be- 
come indifferent  to  religion  ;  for  these  things 
cannot  consist  with  each  other.  It  is  not  only 
contrary  to  the  whole  tenor  of  the  New  Testament, 
but  tends  in  its  own  nature  to  eat  up  true  reli. 
gion.  If  any  worldly  matter,  however  lawful 
in  itself,  engage  our  attention  inordinately,  it 
becomes  a  snare  ;  and  more  so  in  matters  that 
do  not  come  within  the  line  of  our  immediate 
duty.  But  if  in  attending  to  it  we  neglect  what 
manifestly  {5  our  duty,  and  overleap  the  boundaries 
of  God's  holy  word,  let  us  look  to  it :  beyond 
those  boundaries  is  a  pit,  in  which,  there  is  rea- 
son to  fear,  great  numbers  have  been  lost.  There 
were  many  in  the  early  age  of  Christianity  who 
despised  government,  and  were  not  afraid  to  speak 
4 


38  PARTICULAK    SPECIES 

e,v?.  of  dignities :  but  were  they  good  men  ? 
Far  from  it.  Tiiey  were  professors  of  Christian- 
ity, however  ;  for  they  are  said  to  have  escaped 
the  pollutions  of  the  world,  through  the  knowledge 
of  Christ ;  yea,  and  what  is  more,  they  had  at- 
tained the  character  of  christian  teachers.  But 
of  what  description  1  False  teachers^who  privily 
brought  in  damnable  heresies^  denying  the  Lord 
who  bought  them^  bringing  upon  the?nselues  swift 
destruction — whose  ways,  though  followed  by  ma- 
ny-, weveper?iicious,  occasioning  the  way  of  truth 
to  be  evil  spoken  of*  To  copy  the  examples  of 
such  men  is  no  light  matter. 

When  a  man's  thoughts  and  affections  are  filled 
with  such  things  as  these,  the  scriptures  become  a 
kind  of  dead  letter,  while  the  speeches  and  writ, 
ings  of  politicians  are  the  lively  oracles  :  spiritual 
conversation  is  unheard,  or  if  introduced  by 
others,  considered  as  a  flat  and  uninteresting 

*  2  Pet.  ii. 


OF   BACKSLIDING.  39 

topic  ;  and  leisure  hours,  whether  sitting  in  the 
liouse  or  walking  by  the  way,  instead  of  being 
employed  in  talking  and  meditating  on  divine 
subjects,  are  engrossed  by  things  which  do  not 
profit.  Such  are  the  rocks  amongst  which  many 
have  made  shipwreck  of  tjieir  faith  and  a  good 
conscience. 

Whatever  may  be  the  duty  of  a  nation  in  ex- 
traordinary  cases,  there  is  scarcely  any  thing  in 
all  the  New  Testament  inculcated  with  more  so- 
lemnity, than  that  individuals,  and  especially 
christians,  should  be  obedient,  peaceable,  and  loyal 
subjects  :  nor  is  there  any  sin  much  more  awful- 
ly censured  than  the  contrary  conduct.  It  re- 
quires not  only  that  we  keep  within  the  compass 
of  the  laws,  (which  is  easily  done  by  men  of  the 
most  unprincipled  minds)  but  that  we  honour, 
and  intercede  with  God  for  those  who  administer 
them.  These  duties  were  pressed  particularly 
upon  the  Romans,  who,  by  their  situation,  were 


40  PARTICULAR    SPECIES. 

more  exposed  than  others  to  the  temptation  of 
joining  in  factions  and  conspiracies,  which  were 
almost  continually  at  work  in  that  tumultuous 
city. 

Nor  does  the  danger  belong  exclusively  to  one 
side.  We  may  sin  by  an  adherence  to  the 
measures  of  a  government,  as  well  as  by  an  op- 
position  to  them.  If  we  enlist  under  the  banners 
of  the  party  in  power,  considered  as  a  party,  we 
shall  feel  disposed  to  vindicate  or  palliate  all  their 
proceedings,  which  may  be  very  inconsistent  with 
Christianity.  Paul,  though  he  enjoined  obedi- 
ence to  the  existing  government,  yet  was  never 
an  advocate  for  Roman  ambition  ;  and  when  ad- 
dressing  himself  to  a  governor,  did  not  fail  fo  rea- 
son on  righteousness^  ieinpera/ice,  and  judgment 
to  come.  It  is  our  duty,  no  doubt,  to  consider 
that  many  things  which  seem  evil  to  us  might 
appear  otherwise,  if  all  the  circumstances  of  the 
case  were  known,  and  therefore  to  forbear  pass. 


OF    BAClvSLIDING.  41 

ing  hfisty  censures :  but  on  the  other  hand,  we 
ought  to  beware  of  applauding  every  thing  that 
is  done,  lest,  if  it  be  evil,  we  be  partakers  of 
other  men's  sins,  and  contribute  to  their  being 
repeated. 

While  some,  burning  witli  revolutionary  zeal, 
have  imagined  they  could  discover  all  the  won- 
derful events  of  the  present  day  in  scripture  pro- 
phecy, and  have  been  nearly  blinded  to  the  cri- 
minality  of  the  principal  agents,  others,  by  a 
contrary  prejudice,  have  disregarded  the  works 
of  the  Lord,  and  the  operations  of  his  hand. 
Whatever  may  be  said  of  means  and  instru- 
ments, we  must  be  strangely  insensible  not  to 
see  the  hand  of  God  in  the  late  overturnings 
among  the  papal  powers  ;  and  if  we  be  induced 
by  political  attachment,  instead  of  joining  the 
inhabitants  of  heaven  in  a  song  of  praise,  to 
unite  with  the  merchants  of  the  earth  in  their  la- 
mentations, are  we  not  carnal  ?  There  is  no 
4* 


42  PARTICULAR    SPECIES 

need  of  vindicating  or  palliating  the  measures 
of  men  which  may  be  wicked  in  the  extreme  : 
but  neither  ought  we  to  overlook  the  hand  of 
God. 

The  great  point  with  christians  should  be,  ah 
attachment  to  government,  as  government^  irre- 
spective  of  the  party  which  administers  it ;  for 
this  is  right,  and  would  tend  more  than  anything 
to  promote  the  kingdom  of  Christ.  We  are  not 
called  to  yield  up  our  consciences  in  religious 
matters  ;  nor  to  approve  of  what  is  wrong  in 
those  which  are  civil ;  but  we  are  not  at  liberty 
to  deal  in  acrimony,  or  evil  speaking.  The 
good  which  results  to  society  from  the  very 
worst  government  upon  earth,  is  great  when 
compared  with  the  evils  of  anarchy.  On  this 
principle,  it  is  probable,  the  apostle  enjoined  obe- 
dience to  the  powers  that  were,  even  during  the 
reign  of  Nero.  Christians  are  soldiers  under 
the  King  of  kings  :    their  object  should  be  to 


OF    BACKSLIDING.  43 

conquer  all  ranks  and  degrees  of  men  to  the 
obedience  of  failh.  But  to  do  this,  it  is  neces- 
sary that  they  avoid  all  those  entanglements 
and  disputes  which  retard  their  main  design. 
If  a  wise  man  wishes  to  gain  over  a  nation  to 
any  great  and  worthy  object,  he  does  not  enter 
into  their  little  differences,  nor  embroil  himself 
in  their  party  contentions  ;  but  bearing  good- 
will to  all,  seeks  the  general  good ;  by  these 
means  he  is  respected  by  all,  and  all  are  ready 
to  hear  what  he  has  to  offer.  Such  should  be 
the  wisdom  of  christians.  There  is  enmity 
enough  for  us  to  encounter  without  unnecessa- 
rily adding  to  it. 

If  a  christian  be  under  the  necessity  of  siding 
with  a  party,  undoubtedly  he  ought  to  be  in  fa- 
vour of  that  which  appears  to  him  the  best  :  but 
even  in  this  case  it  is  not  becoming  him  to  en- 
ter with  eagerness  into  their  disputes.  Let 
worldly  men,  who  thirst  after  preferment,  busy 


44  PARTICULAR    SPECIES 

themselves  in  a  contested  election — they  have 
their  reward — but  let  christians,  if  called  to  ap- 
pear, discharge  their  duty,  and  retire  from  the 
tumultuous  scene. 

By  entering  deeply  into  the  party  contentions 
of  the  nation,  religious  people  on  both  sides  will 
be  charged  in  their  turn  with  disloyalty  ;  and  it 
may  be  not  always  without  a  cause.  Fifty 
years  ago,  that  party  was  out  of  power  which  at 
present  is  in  power.  At  that  time  the  charge 
of  disloyalty  was  directed  against  them  ;  and 
they  were  then  denominated  patriots.  It  is  pos- 
sible, that  many  who  now  seem  to  abhor  a  spirit 
of  disaffection  towards  administrative  govern- 
ment, would  be  themselves  not  the  best  affected, 
were  the  other  side  to  recover  its  authority. 
But  if  we  enter  into  the  spirit  of  the  gospel, 
though  we  may  have  our  preferences  of  men 
and  measures,  we  shall  bear  good-will  to  all,  and 
whoever  be  at  the  head  of  affairs,  shall  reve- 


OF    BACKSLIDIXG.  45 

rcnce  the  powers  that  he.  Whatever  be  our  pri- 
vate opinion  of  the  men,  we  shall  respect  and 
honour  the  rulers.  That  loyalty  which  operates 
only  with  the  prevalence  of  a  party,  whichever 
it  be,  is  at  a  great  remove  from  the  loyalty  en- 
joined by  the  scriptures. 

By  standing  aloof  from  ail  parties  as  suchy 
and  approving  themselves  the  friends  of  govern- 
ment and  good  order,  by  whomsoever  adminis- 
tered, christians  would  acquire  a  dignity  of  cha- 
racter worthy  of  their  profession,  would  be  re- 
spected by  all,  and  possess  greater  opportunities 
of  doing  good :  while  by  a  contrary  conduct 
they  render  one  part  of  the  community  their 
enemies,  and  the  other,  1  fear,  derive  but  little 
spiritual  advantage  from  being  their  friends. 


46  SYMPTOMS    OF    A 


ON  TPIE  SYMPTOMS  OF  A  BACKSLIDING 
SPIRIT. 

It  was  reckoned  a  matter  of  consequence  in 
cases  of  leprosy,  real  or  supposed,  that  the  true 
state  of  the  person  should  be  examined,  and  judg- 
ment given  accordingly  ;*  and  by  how  much  a 
moral  disease  is  more  odious,  contagious,  and 
dangerous  than  one  that  is  natural,  by  so  much 
is  it  more  necessary  to  form  a  true  judgment 
concerning  it.  Every  spot  was  not  a  leprosy  ; 
and  every  sinful  imperfeciion  in  a  christian  pro- 
fessor does  not  denominate  him  a  backslider. 
Paul  had  to  lament  the  body  of  death  ;  he  had 
not  attained,  nor  was  he  already  perfect ;  yet 
he  pressed  forward;  and  while  this  was  the 
case  he  could  not  be  said  to  draw  back.     On 

*  Levit.  xiii. 


BACKSLIDING    SPIRIT.  47 

the  other  hand,  every  departure  from  God  must 
not  be  reckoned  a  mere  imperfection  which  is 
common  to  good  men.  We  are  extremely  apt, 
in  certain  cases,  to  flatter  ourselves  that  our 
spots  are  only  the  spots  of  God's  children,  or 
such  as  the  best  of  men  are  subject  to,  and  there- 
fore to  conclude  that  there  is  nothing  very  dan- 
gerous about  them.  We  do  not  pretend  to  deny 
that  we  have  our  faults  :  but  are  ready  to  ask, 
WItat  have  we  done  so  muck  against  thee  ?  This 
sslf-justifying  spirit,  however,  so  far  from  indi- 
eating  anything  favourable,  is  a  strong  mark  of 
the  contrary.  It  is  said  of  Ephraim,  He  is  a 
merchant^  the  balances  of  deceit  are  in  Ids  hand  : 
he  loveth  to  oppress.  And  Ephraim  said,  Yet  I 
am  beco?ne  rich  :  I  have  found  me  out  sulstanee  : 
In  all  my  labours  they  shall  find  none  iniquity  in 
me  that  were  sin*     A  more  finished  picture  of  a 

*  Hos.  xii.  7,  8. 


48  SYMPTOMS    OF    A 

modern  oppressor  could  not  be  drawn.  He  stu* 
dies  to  keep  within  the  limits  of  the  law,  and 
defies  any  man  to  impeach  his  character  :  he 
has  imperfections,  but  they  are  only  such  as  are 
common  to  good  men  :  there  is  nothing  crimi- 
nal  to  be  found  in  him  :  yet  he  is  carrying  on 
at  the  time  a  system  of  iniquity. 

The  apostle  Paul  speaks  of  a  certain  state  of 
mind  which  he  feared  he  should  find  in  the 
Corinthians  ;  that  of  their  having  sinned^  and 
not  repented  of  their  deeds.  This  it  is  which  de- 
nominates a  man  a  backslider ;  and  which,  so 
long  as  it  continues,  deprives  him  of  any  scrip- 
tural foundation  for  concluding  himself  interest- 
ed in  forgiving  mercy. — What  are  the  particu- 
lar symptoms  of  this  state  of  mind,  is  the  object 
of  our  present  inquiry. 

If  our  departing  from  the  Lord  have  issued 
in  some  outward  misconduct,  there  is  no  need 
of  inquiring  into  the  proofs  of  it,  as  the  thing 


BACKSLIDING    SPIRIT.  49 

speaks  for  itself ;  but  if  its  operations  have  been 
at  present  only  internal,  the  inquiry  may  be 
highly  necessary,  that  we  may  become  acquaint- 
ed with  our  condition,  and  that  the  disease  may 
be  healed  ere  it  finishes  its  operations.  Further, 
though  it  may  be  out  of  all  doubt  that  we  have 
sinned,  yet  it  may  be  a  matter  of  uncertainty, 
whether  we  have,  or  have  not  repented  ;  if  we 
imagine  we  have  when  we  have  not,  the  conse- 
quence may  be  of  the  most  serious  nature.  Let 
the  following  observations  then  be  attended  to. 
Firsts  If  religious  duties   are   attended 

TO    RATHER  FROM  CUSTOM   OR  CONSCIENCE    THAN 

LOVE,  we  must  either  never  have  knoAvn  what 
true  religion  is,  or  in  a  great  degree  have  lost 
the  spirit  of  it. — It  is  possible  that  we  may  have 
been  guilty  of  no  particular  outward  evil,  so  as 
to  have  fallen  under  the  censure  of  the  world, 
or  even  our  nearest  connexions ;  and  yet  have 
so  far  lost  the  spirit  of  religion  aa  to  be  really 
5 


50  SYMPTOMS    OF    A 

in  a  backsliding  state.  The  exercises  of  prayer, 
reading  the  scriptures,  hearing  the  word,  and 
giving  something  to  the  poor,  may  be  kept  up 
in  form,  and  yet  be  little  or  anything  more  than 
a  form.  The  church  of  Ephesus  was  not  accus- 
ed of  any  particular  outward  misconduct ;  but 
they  had  left  their  first  love.  Where  this  is  the 
case,  however,  much  will  be  neglected,  especially 
of  those  parts  of  duty  which  fiiU  not  under  the 
eye  of  creatures.  It  is  supposed  of  the  church 
just  referred  to,  that  they  had  relaxed,  if  not  in 
the  actual  performance,  yet  in  the  manner  of 
performing  their  religious  exercises;  therefore 
they  are  exliurted  to  repent  and  to  do  their  f.rst 
worhs.  A  departure  from  our  first  love  is  com- 
monly the  first  step  of  a  backsliding  course. 
Perhaps  if  the  truth  vrere  knov/n,  there  are  few 
open  falls  but  what  are  preceded  by  a  secret  de- 
parture of  heart  from  the  living  God. 

Secondly^    If   v/e   have    fallen    isto    axi' 


BACKSLIDING    SPIBIT.  51 

PARTICULAR  SIN,  WHICH  EXPOSES  US  TO  THE 
CENSURES  OF  OUR  FRIENDS,  AND  INSTEAD  OP 
CONFESSING  IT  WITH  SORROW,  ARE  EMPLOYED 
IN    DEFENDING    OR    PALLIATING    IT,    it    is    a    Cer- 

tain  proof  that  we  are  at  present  under  the 
power  of  it. — There  are  some  sins  that  cannot 
be  defended;  but  there  are  others  which  will 
admit  of  much  to  be  said  on  their  behalf;  and 
it  is  admirable  with  what  ingenuity  men  will 
go  about  to  find  excuses  where  self  is  concern- 
ed. People  that  you  would  think  hardly  pos- 
sessed of  common  sense,  will  in  this  case  be 
singularly  quick-sighted,  discerning  every  cir- 
cumstance that  may  make  in  their  favour,  or 
serve  to  extenuate  their  fault.  The  cunning  of 
the  old  serpent  which  appeared  in  the  excuses 
of  our  first  parents,  seems  here  to  supply  the 
place  of  wisdom. — This  self-justifying  spirit  is 
a  very  dangerous  symptom  :  while  it  continues 
there  is  no  hope  of  a  good  issue.     "We  read  of 


52  SYMPTOMS    OF   A 

the  deceitfalness  of  sin  :  and  truly  it  is  with 
great  propriety  that  deceit  is  ascribed  to  it. 
Perhaps  there  are  few  persons  who  are  employ- 
ed in  justifying  their  failings,  but  who  are  first 
imposed  upon,  or  brought  to  think,  somehow, 
that  they  are,  if  not  quite  justifiable,  yet  very 
excusable.  Sin,  when  we  have  committed  it, 
loses  its  sinfulness,  and  appears  a  very  different 
thing  from  what  it  did  in  others.  David's  indig- 
nation could  rise  against  the  man  that  had 
taken  an  ewe-lamb,  while  to  his  own  conduct, 
which  was  much  more  criminal,  he  was  blinded  ! 
When  any  sin  is  committed  by  us,  it  is  common 
for  it  to  assume  another  name ;  and  by  means 
of  this  we  become  easily  reconciled  to  it,  and 
we  are  ready  to  enter  on  a  vindication  of  it. 
Covetousness  will  admit  of  a  defence  under  the 
names  of  prudence,  industry,  or  frugality  :  con- 
formity to  the  world  may  be  pleaded  for  as  an 
exercise  of  sociability  and  good  breeding  ;  un- 


BACKSLIDING      SPIRIT.  53 

christian  resentment  as  necessary  self-defenco  ; 
foolish  levity  as  innocent  mirth  ;  malignant 
contentions  as  zeal  for  the  truth  ;  and  indiffe- 
rence to  the  truth  as  candour,  or  liberality  of 
sentiment. 

Thirdly^  Though  ^ve  do  not  defend  or  pal- 
liate   OUR  SIN  IN  WORDS,    YET  IF  WE    CONTINUE 

IN  THE  PRACTICE  OF  IT,  we  may  be  certain  we 
have  not  repented. — All  true  repentance  is  fol- 
lowed by  ?i  forsaking  of  the  evil,  and  where  this 
effect  is  not  produced,  there  can  be  no  scriptural 
ground  to  hope  for  forgiveness.  There  are  sins 
as  before  observed,  which  will  admit  of  no  de- 
fence. If  a  person  be  convicted  of  them,  he 
can  do  no  other  than  own  himself  in  the  wrong, 
or  at  least  be  silent :  yet  he  may  feel  no  sorrow 
on  their  account,  nor  scarcely  any  intention  to 
forsake  them.  When  Samuel  reproved  Saul  for 
his  rebellion  against  the  commandment  of  the 
Lord,  assuring  him  that  God  had  rejected  him 
5* 


54  SYMPTOMS     OF    A 

from  being  King,  and  had  given  the  kingdom  to 
a  neighbour  of  his  that  was  better  than  he,  ho 
was  confounded,  and  compelled  to  say,  /  have 
sinned :  yet  the  only  concern  he  discovered  was 
on  account  of  having  lost  his  honour;  and  as 
soon  as  he  suspected  vviio  was  his  rival,  he  sought 
to  slay  him.  Even  Solomon  discovered  a  very 
similar  disposition.  Instead  of  lamenting  and 
forsaking  the  sin  for  which  he  had  been  reprov- 
ed, as  soon  as  he  knew  that  Jeroboam  had  been 
anointed  by  the  prophet  Ahijah,  he  sought  to  kill 
him.*  A  sullen  silence  under  reproof,  and  a 
perseverance  in  the  evil,  are  certain  signs  of  a 
hard  and  impenitent  heart. 

Fourthly^  Though  we  should  refeain  from 

THE  PRACTICE  OF  THE  EVIL,  YET  IF  IT  BE  ONLY  A 
TEMPORARY    EFFECT  OF  CONVICTION,  there  is   HO 

true  repentance.  It  is  very  common  for  persons 
when  they  fall  into  any  gross  sin  to  feel  asham- 

*  1  Sam.  XV.       1  Kings  xi. 


BACKSLIDING     SPIRIT.  65 

ed  and  alarmed,  to  wish  they  had  not  acted  as 
thoy  have,  and  to  resolve  that  they  will  do  so  no 
more :  and  this,  though  the  love  of  the  evil  be 
the  same,  and  on  the  first  temptation  that  returns 
it  is  committed  again,  is  nevertheless  frequently 
mistaken  for  repentance.  When  Saul's  life  was 
spared  by  David,  and  his  groundless  malice 
against  him  was  detected,  his  heart  seemed  to 
relent ;  he  felt  ashamed,  owned  his  sin,  lifted  up 
his  voice  and  wept,  and  promised  to  do  so  no 
more  ;  but  this  was  not  repentance.  David  ap- 
pears  to  have  suspected  it  at  the  time  ;  for  he 
would  not  trust  himself  in  his  hands ;  but  gat 
him  up  into  the  hold  :*  and  the  event  justified 
his  conduct.  The  first  opportunity  that  offered, 
Saul  returned  to  the  folly  he  had  condemned. — 
A  temporary  abstinence  from  evil  may  soon  be 
produced  by  some  alarming  providence.  When 
judgments  overtake  us,  and  conscience  tells  us 

•  1  Sam.  xxiv. 


56  SYMPTOMS     OF    A 

that  it  is  the  hand  of  the  Lord  stretched  out 
against  us  for  our  sin,  the  mind  is  appalled  with 
fear,  and  so  ceases  to  be  in  a  state  to  pursue  its 
favourite  devices.  But  if  as  soon  as  the  pres- 
sing hand  of  providence  is  removed,  the  heart 
returns  like  a  spring,  to  its  former  position,  there 
is  no  reason  to  consider  its  temporary  depression 
as  containing  any  true  repentance. 

Dr.  Owen  has  expressed  these  sentiments  with 
that  unction  of  spirit,  and  deep  insight  into  the 
human  heart  which  is  pecuHar  to  himself. — 

"  There  are  two  occasions,  says  he,  wherein 
men  who  are  contending  with  any  sin,  may  seem 
to  themselves  to  have  mortified  it. — First,  when 
it  hath  had  some  sad  eruption  to  the  disturbance 
of  their  peace,  terror  of  their  consciences,  dread 
of  scandal,  and  evident  provocation  of  God. 
This  awakens  and  stirs  up  all  that  is  in  the  man, 
and  amazes  him,  fills  him  with  abhorrency  of 
sin,  and  himself  for  it;  sends  him  to  God,  makes 


BACKSLIDING     SPIRIT.  57 

him  cry  out  as  for  life,  to  abhor  his  lust  as  hell, 
and  to  set  himself  against  it.  The  whoJe  man 
spiritual  and  natural,  being  now  awakened,  sin 
shrinks  in  its  head,  appears  not,  but  lies  as  dead 
before  him.  As  when  one  that  hath  drawn  nigh 
to  an  army  in  the  night,  and  hath  killed  a  prin- 
cipal person  ;  instantly  the  guards  awake,  men 
are  roused  up,  and  strict  inquiry  is  made  after 
the  enemy ;  who  in  the  mean  time,  until  the 
noise  and  tumult  be  over,  hides  himself  or  lies 
like  one  that  is  dead,  yet  with  firm  resolution  to 
do  the  like  mischief  again  upon  the  like  oppor- 
tunity.— Secondly,  in  a  time  of  some  judgment, 
calamity,  or  pressing  affliction.  The  heart  is 
then  taken  up  with  thoughts  and  contrivances 
of  flying  from  the  present  troubles,  fears,  and 
dangers.  This,  as  a  convinced  person  concludes, 
is  to  be  done  only  by  relinquishment  of  sin, 
which  gains  peace  with  God,  It  is  the  anger 
of  God  in  every  affliction  that  galls  a  convinced 


58 


SYMPTOMS    OF   A 


person.     To  be  quit  of  this,  men  resolve  at  such 
times  against  their  sins.     Sin  shall    never  more 
have  any  place  in  them  ;  they  will  never  again 
give  themselves  up  to  the  service  of  it.    Accord- 
ingly sin  is  quiet,  stirs  not,  seems  to  be   morti- 
fied :  not  indeed  that   it  has  received  any  one 
wound,  but  merely  because  the  soul  hath   pos- 
sessed its  faculties  whereby  it  should  exert  itself, 
with    thoughts   inconsistent    v/ith    the    motions 
thereof;  which  when  they  are  laid  aside,  sin  re- 
turns  again  to  its    former  life  and  vigour.     Of 
this  we  have  a  full  instance  in  Ps.  Ixxviii.  32 — 38. 
For  all  this  they  sinned  stilly  and  believed  not  for 
his  luondcrous  ivorks.      Therefore  their  days  did  he 
consuvic  in  vanity^  and  their  years   in  trouble. 
When  he  slew  them,  then  they  sought  him:  and  they 
returned  and  enquired  early  after  God.  And  they 
remembered  that  God  was  their  rock,  and  the  high 
God  their  redeemer.     Nevertheless  they  did  flatter 
kim  with  their  mouth,  and  they  Uedunto  him  with 


BACKSLIDING     SPIRIT.  59 

their  tongues.  For  their  heart  was  not  right  with 
him<,  neither  were  they  steadfast  in  his  covenant. 
I  no  way  doubt  but  when  they  sought  and  re- 
turned, and  enquired  earnestly  after  God,  they 
did  it  with  full  purpose  of  heart,  as  to  the  relin- 
quishment of  their  sins.  This  is  expressed  in 
the  word  returned.  To  turn^  or  return  unto  the 
Lord  is  by  a  relinquishment  of  sin.  And  this 
they  did  carhj^  with  earnestness  and  diligence  : 
but  yet  their  sin  was  unmortified  for  all  this,  v. 
36,  37  :  and  this  is  tlie  state  of  many  humilia- 
lions  in  the  days  of  affliction,  and  a  great  de. 
ceit  in  the  hearts  of  believers  themselves,  lies  of. 
tentimes  herein."* 

When  a  professor  of  religion  has  fallen  into 
drunkenness,  uncleanness,  or  some  such  odious 
vice,  and  wishes  to  shelter  himself  from  the  cen- 
sures of  his  connexions,  you  v/ill  often  hear  him 
allege,  "  1  have  repented  ;"  whereas  it  amounts 


*  On  The  Mortification  of  sin  in  believers,  chap.  v. 


60  SYMPTOMS    OF    A 

to  little  more  than  the  shame  and  alarm  above 
described,  as  his  after  conduct  very  frequently 
proves.  Indeed,  it  is  not  of  the  nature  of  true  re- 
pentance to  talk  of  having  repented,  and  especial- 
ly for  the  purpose  of  evading  a  faithful  censure. 

FiftJdy,  THOUGH  WE  SHOULD  REFRAIN  FROM 
THE  OPEN  PRACTICE  OF  THE  SIN,  AND  THAT  FOR 
A  CONTINUANCE  ;  YET  IF  IT  BE  MERELY  FROM 
PRUDENTIAL    OR     SELFISH     CONSIDERATIONS,     We 

may  be  certain  that  we  have  not  yet  repented 
of  it. — Though  we  had  no  religion  and  pretend- 
ed to  none,  we  might  find  various  inducements 
to  refrain  from  gross  immoralities.  They  affect 
our  interest,  our  health,  our  reputation  :  it  is  on 
such  principles  that  mere  worldly  men  will  guard 
against  them  ;  and  if  we  act  from  the  same  mo- 
tives, wherein  are  we  better  than  they  ?  Or  if 
the  dread  of  future  punishment  may  be  supposed 
to  have  some  influence  unon  us,  this  is  a  very 
different  thin<]r  from  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  which  is 


V 


BACKSLIDING    SPIRIT.  61 

to  kale  evil.  And  where  the  motives  for  abstain^ 
ing  from  any  evil  are  merely  prudential,  or  sel- 
fish, we  shall  abstain  from  very  little  more  than 
than  that  which  falls  under  the  eye  of  creatures. 
Our  watchfulness  will  respect  little,  if  anything, 
more  than  outward  actions.  The  daily  care  of 
oui  lives  will  be,  not  how  we  shall  please  God, 
but  how  we  shall  conceal  the  prevailing  disposi. 
tions  of  our  hearts  from  those  about  us.  A  task 
this  as  difficult  as  it  is  mean  :  for  whatever  oc- 
cupies  our  thoughts  and  affections,  will,  on  va- 
rious occasions,  notvt'ithstanding  our  utmost  care, 
escape  us.  Looks,  gestures,  manner  of  speaking 
and  acting,  as  well  as  words  and  deeds  them- 
selves, betray  what  is  predominant  within. 
Hence  it  is  that  we  generally  deceive  ourselves 
in  these  matters.  We  often  fancy  our  character 
to  be  unknown  when  it  is  well  known  :  and  if  it 
were  otherwise,  ail  is  naked  and  open  to  the  eyes 
of  him  with  whom  we  have  to  do.  Of  this  wo 
6 


62  SYaiPTOJIS     OF    A 

may  be  certain,  that  while  our  chief  concern  is 
to  hide  our  sins  from  those  about  us,  should  we 
be  summoned  to  give  an  account  of  our  steward- 
ship, it  will  appear  that  we  Jiave  simicd^  and  not 
repented  of  our  deeds ;  which,  wherein  it  differs 
from  going  down  to  the  grave  nith  our  guilt  up- 
on our  headsi  is  difficult  to  say. 

Sixthly,  If  we  take  pleasure  in  talking 

OF     THE      EVIL,    OR     IN    DWELLING     UPON     IT     IN 

OUR  THOUGHTS,  it  is  a  certain  sign  of  the  same 
thing.  True  repentance  works  in  a  way  of  si- 
lent shame  and  self-abasement — That  thou  may- 
est  remember  and  be  confounded,  and  never  open 
thy  mouth  any  more,  because  of  thy  shame,  when 
I  am  pacified  towards  thee  for  all  that  thou  hast 
done,  saith  the  Lord  God.*  When  men  can  talk, 
and  even  write  of  their  former  wicked  courses 
with  lightness,  it  is  a  certain  proof  that  what- 
ever repentance   they  have  had  they  do  not  at 

*  Ezek.  xvi.  63. 


BACKSLIDING     SPIRIT.  63 

present  repent  of  it ;  and  though  nothing  be 
said  or  written,  yet  if  such  things  occupy  our 
thoughts,  imaginations,  and  affections,  it  is  much 
the  same.  A  mind  full  of  this  must  needs  be 
Jacking  of  those  spiritual  exercises,  which  render 
us  that  we  shall  neither  be  barren  nor  unfruitful 
in  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ  ;  and  those  that  are  such  are  fitly  enough 
described  as  having  forgotten  that  they  were 
purged  from  their  old  sins."^  If  old  sins  are 
thought  of  with  new  delight,  they  are  reacted 
and  persisted  in ;  and  where  this  continues  to 
be  the  case,  the  guilt  of  them  must  remain  upon 
us,  and  may  be  found  upon  our  heads  when  we 
go  down  to  the  grave. 

Lastly,  If  we  TRIFLE  WITH  TEMPTATION,  OR 
BE  NOT  AFRAID  OF  PUTTING  OURSELVES  IN 
THE    WAV    OF    IT,  OR    EVEN    OF    BEING    LED    INTO 

IT,  we  may  be  certain  that  we  at  present  have 
*  2  Pet.  i.  5—9. 


64  DANGEROUS    EFFECTS 

not  repented  of  our  sin. — It  is  a  saying  almost 
grown  into  a  proverb,  He  that  is  not  afraid  of 
temptation  is  not  afraid  of  sin;  and  he  that  is 
not  afraid  of  sin  must  needs  be  in  danger  of  be- 
ing destroyed  by  it.  If,  after  having  been  re- 
peatedly  drawn  into  sin  by  associating  in  cer- 
tain companies,  or  engaging  in  certain  pursuits, 
we  can  nevertheless  run  into  them  again  with- 
out fear,  we  cannot  possibly  have  repented  of 
our  deeds.  Nay  more,  though  we  should  fear 
to  plunge  ourselves  into  temptation,  yet  if  when 
providence  brings  us  into  such  situations  and 
companies,  our  hearts  secretly  rejoice  in  it,  this 
is  no  less  an  evidence  of  our  impenitent  state 
than  the  other.  True  repentance  will  not  only 
teach  us  to  shun  the  way  of  evil,  but  to  be  averse 
to  every  avenue  that  leads  to  it.  If,  therefore, 
we  either  run  into  temptation,  or  are  glad  when 
we  are  led  into  it,  we  are  beyond  all  doubt  un- 
der the  power  of  it. 


OF   BACKSLIDING.  66 


ON  THE  INJURIOUS  AND  DANGEROUS  EF- 
FECTS  OF  SIN  LYING  UPON  THE  CON- 
SCIENCE UNLAMENTED. 

It  is  a  dangerous  thing  to  fall  into  sin,  whether 
secretly  or  openly,  and  the  effects  of  it,  sooner 
or  later,  will  certainly  be  felt ;  but  to  continue 
in  it  is  much  more  so.  A  very  heavy  threaten- 
ing is  denounced  against  God's  open  enemies 
for  their  persisting  in  sin  :  God  shall  wound  the 
head  of  his  enemies,  and  the  hairy  scalp  of  such  an 
one  as  goeth  on  still  in  his  trespasses*  But 
the  same  thing  in  persons  who  have  known  the 
way  of  righteousness,  must  be  abundantly  more 
offensive.  He  that  chastise th  the  heathen,  shall 
not  He  correct.'f  .  There  is  a  remedy  at  hand  of 
God's  providing ;  a  propitiation  for  our  sins  ;  and 

»  Psal.  Ixviii.  21.  t  Psal.  xciv.  10. 

6* 


G6  DANGEROUS    EFFECTS 

it  is  declared,  If  any  man  sin,  we  have  an  advo- 
cate loith  the  Father,  Jesus  Christ  the  righteous. 
But  if  instead  of  confessing  our  sins  on  the  head 
of  this  propitiation,  and  imploring  mercy  in  his 
name,  we  sink  into  hardness  of  heart,  neglect 
prayer,  shun  the  company  of  the  faithful,  and 
efface  the  remembrance  of  one  sin  only  by  the 
commission  of  another,  what  have  we  to  expect  ? 
I  am  aware  that  it  is  one  of  the  devices  of 
Satan,  after  having  drawn  a  soul  from  God,  and 
entangled  him  in  the  net  of  his  own  corruptions, 
to  persuade  him  that  the  prayer  of  faith  in  his 
circumstances  would  be  presumption  ;  and  that 
it  is  much  more  modest  and  becoming  for  him 
to  stand  aloof  both  from  God  and  his  people. 
And  if  by  faith  were  meant,  what  some  would 
seem  to  understand  by  it,  a  working  up  our- 
selves into  a  persuasion  that  owing  to  the  im- 
mutability  of  God  all  is  safe  and  right,  whatever 
be  our  spirit  or  conduct,  it  would  be  presump- 


OF    BACKSLIDING.  67 

tuous  enough  :  but  genuine  faith  in  Christ  is 
never  out  of  season.  The  greater  our  sin  has 
been,  t!ie  greater  reason  there  is  for  us  to  con- 
fess it  upon  the  head  of  the  gospel  sacrifice,  and 
to  plead  for  mercy  in  his  name.  We  may  not 
be  able  to  go,  considering  ourselves  as  chris- 
tians :  but  this  affords  no  reason  why  we  should 
not  go  as  sinners. 

The  injury  and  danger  of  such  a  state  of 
mind  will  appear  from  a  consideration  of  the 
effects  which  it  produces  ;  and  must  continue 
to  produce,  if  not  healed  by  a  return  to  God  by 
Jesus  Christ. 

Firsts  It  will  necessarily  deprive  us  op 

ALL  TRUE  ENJOYMENT  IN  RELIGION,  AND  BY 
CONSEQUENCE,  OF  ALL  THAT  PRESERVATION  TO 
THE  HEART  AND  MIND  WHICH  SUCH  ENJOY- 
MENT AFFORDS. — The  principal  sources  of  en- 
joyment to  a  christian  that  walketh  spiritually, 
are,  communion  with  God  and  his  people  :  but 


68  DANGEROUS    EFFECTS 

to  him  that  is  out  of  the  way  these  streams  are 
dried  up :  or,  which  is  the  same  thing  in  effect 
to  him,  they  are  so  impeded  as  not  to  reach  him. 
Guilt,  shame,  darkness,  ami  defilement  have 
taken  possession  of  the  soul :  love  is  quenched, 
hope  clouded,  joy  fled,  prayer  restrained,  and 
every  other  grace  enervated.  It  becomes  the 
holiness  of  God  to  frown  upon  us  under  such  a 
state  of  mind,  by  withholding  the  light  of  his 
countenance  ;  and  if  it  were  otherwise,  we  have 
no  manner  of  desire  after  it.  Such  was  the 
state  of  David  after  he  had  sinned,  and  before 
he  had  repented  :  the  joys  of  God's  salvation 
were  far  from  him.  The  thirty-second  and 
thirty-eighth  Psalms  appear  to  have  been  writ- 
ten, as  has  already  been  observed,  after  his  reco- 
very :  but  he  there  describes  what  was  the  state 
of  his  mind  previous  to  it.  There  is  much 
meaning  in  what  he  sets  out  with  in  the  first  of 
these  psalms  :  Blessed  is  he  whose  transgression 


OF    BACKSLIDING.  C9 

is  forgiven,  and  whose  sin  is  covered — Blessed  is 
the  man  to  lohom  the  Lord  impiUcth  not  iniquity, 
and  in  lohose  spirit  there  is  no  guile  !  He  knev/ 
the  contrary  of  this  by  bitter  experience.  Guilt 
and  defilement  had  eaten  up  all  his  enjoyment. 
V/hcn  I  kept  silence,  saith  he,  ?ni/  bones  waxed 
old,  through  my  roaring  all  the  day  long :  for  day 
and  night  thy  hand  was  heavy  upon  me  :  my  mois- 
ture is  turned  into  the  drought  of  summer.  It 
does  not  appear  that  he  fully  desisted  from 
prayer  ;  but  there  was  none  of  that  freedom  in 
it  which  he  was  wont  to  enjoy.  It  was  roaring 
rather  than  praying  ;  aijd  God  is  represented  as 
disregarding  it.  In  the  thirty-eighth  psalm  he 
speaks  of  the  rebukes  of  God's  wrath,  and  the 
f hastening  of  his  hot  displeasure;  of  his  arrows 
sticking  fast  in  him^  and  his  hand  pressing  him 
sore :  of  there  being  no  soundness  in  his  flesh  be- 
cause of  his  anger,  nor  rest  in  his  bones  because 
of  his  sin.     There  is  one  expression  exceedingly 


70  DANGEROUS    EFEECTS 

appropriate :  Mi/  wounds  stink  and  arc  corrupt^ 
because  of  my  foolishness.  A  wound  may  be 
dangerous  at  the  time  of  its  being  received ;  but 
much  more  so  if  it  be  neglected  till  the  humours 
of  the  body  are  drawn  towards  it.  In  this  case 
it  is  hard  to  be  healed  ;  and  the  patient  has  not 
only  to  reflect  on  his  heedlessness  in  first  expos- 
ing himself  to  danger,  but  on  his  foolishness  in 
so  long  neglecting  the  prescribed  remedy.  Such 
was  the  state  of  his  mind,  till,  as  he  informs  us, 
he  acknowledged  his  transgressions,  and  was  sorry 
for  his  sin. 

And  as  there  can  be  no  communion  with  God, 
so  neither  can  there  be  any  with  his  people.  If 
our  sin  be^Jinown,  it  must  naturally  have  occa- 
sioned a  reservedness,  if  not  an  exclusion  from 
their  society.  Or  if  it  be  unknown,  we  shall  be 
equally  unable  to  enjoy  communion  with  them. 
Guilt  in  our  consciences  will  beget  shame,  and 
incline  us  rather  to  stand  aloof  than  to  come 


OF   BLACKSLIDING.  71 

near  them  ;  or  if  we  go  into  their  company,  it 
will  prove  a  bar  to  freedom.  There  is  some- 
thing at  first  si'ght  rather  singular  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  apostle  John  ;  but  upon  close  in- 
spection,  it  will  be  found  to  be  perfectly  just :  If 
we  walk  in  the  light  as  he  is  in  the  light,  we  have 
felloioship  one  tvith  another. 

But  if  we  are  deprived  of  fellowship  with  God 
and  his  people,  from  what  can  we  derive  conso- 
lation 1  If  we  have  only  had  a  name  to  live, 
and  been  dead,  the  joy  arising  from  vain  hope 
may  possibly  be  supplied  by  carnal  pleasures. 
We  may  drown  reflection  by  busying  ourselves 
in  worldly  pursuits,  mingling  with  worldly  com- 
pany, and  in  short,  returning  like  the  dog  to  his 
■vomit,  and  the  sow  thatioas  washed  to  her  wallow- 
ing in  the  mire  :  but  if  we  have  any  true  religion 
in  us,  we  cannot  do  this  ;  and  then  what  is  there 
under  the  sun  that  can  yield  relief! 

Nor  shall  wc  be  deprived  merely  of  the  enjoy- 


72 


DANGEROUS    EFFECTS 


ments  of  religion,  but  of  all  that  preservation  io 
the  soul  which  they  afford.  The  peace  of  God 
is  represent^ed  as  that  which  keeps  or  fortifies  our 
hearts  and  minds.*  Without  this  the  heart  will 
be  in  continual  danger  of  being  seduced  by  the 
wiles,,  or  sunk  by  the  pressures  of  this  world  ; 
and  the  mindoi  being  drawn  aside  from  the  sim- 
plicity  of  the  gospel. 

Secondly^  It  v/ill  render  us  useless  i?^  our 
GENERATION. — The  great  end  of  existence  with 
a  good  man,  is  to  live  to  him  who  died  for  us  and 
rose  again.  If  God  bless  us,  it  is  that  like  Abraham 
we  may  be  blessings  to  others.  Christians  are  said 
to  be  the  salt  of  the  earth,  and  the  light  of  the  world ; 
but  while  we  are  in  the  state  above  described,  we 
are  as  salt  that  has  lost  its  savour,  whkh  is  good 
for  nothing  ;  or  as  a  light  that  is  hid  under  a  ves- 
sel. Of  what  use  with  respect  to  religion  are  we 
in  our  families,  while  this  is  the  case  ?     Neither 

*  Phil.  iv.  7. 


OF    BACKSLIDING.  73 

servants  nor  children  think  well  of  religion  from 
any  thing  they  see  in  us ;  and  when  we  go  into 
the  world,  and  mingle  among  mankind  in  our 
dealings,  in  whose  conscience  does  our  conver. 
sation  or  behaviour  plant  conviction  ?  Where 
is  the  man,  who,  on  leaving  our  company,  has 
been  compelled  by  it  to  acknowledge  the  reality 
of  religion  ?  Or  if  we  occupy  a  station  in  the 
church  of  God  (and  this  character  may  belong 
to  a  minister  no  less  than  to  another  man)  we 
shall  do  little  or  no  good  in  it ;  but  be  as  vessels 
in  tcliich  the  Lord  taketh  no  pleasure.  There  is 
a  threatening  directed  against  vain  pastors, 
vi'hich  ought  to  malie  a  minister  tremble.  Woe 
to  the  idol  shepherd,  that  leave th  the  Jlock  !  The 
sword  shall  be  upon  his  arm,  and  upon  his  right 
eye :  his  arm  shall  be  clean  dried  vp,  and  his  right 
eye  shall  be  utterly  darkened*  Perhaps  one  of 
the  greatest  temptations  to  backsliding  in  min 

*  Zech.  xi.  17. 
7 


74  DAJiGEROUS     EFFECTS 

isters  may  lie  in  this  way  :  being  selected  from 
their  brethren,  and  chosen  to  the  ofnce  of  pub- 
lic instructors,  they  are  in  danger  of  indulging 
in  self-valuation.  A  man  may  labour  niglit  and 
day  in  his  study,  and  all  to  get  accomplished, 
that  he  may  shine  before  the  people.  ^Vhen 
this  is  the  case,  the  preacher  is  his  own  idol,  and 
it  may  be,  that  of  the  people.  He  feels  little  or 
no  regard  to  the  charge  which  he  has  underta- 
ken, but  is  ready  to  desert  it  whenever  a  difficul- 
ty  arises,  or  any  opportunity  offers  of  improving 
his  circumstances.  The  consequence  is,  the 
sword  of  the  Lord  is  upon  his  arm — he  does  no 
manner  of  execution  in  his  work  :  and  upon  his 
right  eye — whatever  proficiency  he  may  make 
in  science,  or  polite  accomplishments,  he  has  but 
little,  if  any,  spiritual  understanding  in  the 
things  of  God.  This  character  may  respect 
ungodly  preachers,  such  to  whom  the  Jewish  na- 
tion were  given  up  for  their  rejection  of  Christ ; 


OF   BACKSLIDING.  75 

but  there  is  no  sin  committed  by  the  most  ungod- 
ly man,  of  which  the  most  godly  is  not  in 
danger. 

Thirdly,  We  shall  not  only  be  useless,  but 
INJURIOUS  to  the  cause  OF  Christ. — Indeed  it 
is  impossible  to  stand  neuter  in  this  cause.  If 
we  do  no  good,  we  shall  do  harm  ;  not  only  as 
cumberers  of  the  ground,  occupying  that  place 
in  society  which  might  be  better  filled  by  others, 
but  as  giving  a  false  representation  of  religion, 
and  diffusing  a  savour  of  death  among  mankind. 
If  our  domestics  infer  nothing  favourable  to  reli- 
gion from  our  conduct  in  the  family,  they  will 
infer  something  unfavourable  ;  and  if  there  be 
but  little  good  to  be  seen  in  our  example,  it  is 
well  if  there  bo  not  much  evil ;  and  this  will 
surely  be  imitated.  Who  can  calculate  what 
influence  the  treachery,  unchastity,  and  mur- 
der committed  by  David,  had  upon  his  family  ? 
We  know  that  each  was  acted  over  again  by 


70  DANGEROUS    EFFECTS 

Aramon  and  Absalom.  And  thus  many  a  parent 
has  seen  his  own  sins  repeated  in  his  posterity  ; 
and  perhaps,  if  he  had  lived  longer  might  have 
seen  them  multiplied  still  more  to  his  shame  and 
confusion. 

The  servants  of  God  are  called  to  bear  testi- 
mony for  hi rn  :  Ye  are  my  witnesses,  saith  the 
Lord  of  HostsJ*  This  is  not  done  merely  by 
words,  but  by  deeds.  There  is  a  way  of  bearing 
witness  to  the  reality  and  importance  of  religion 
by  a  zealous  perseverance  in  it,  to  its  dignity  by 
our  firmness,  to  its  happy  influence  by  content, 
edness  and  cheerfulness,  and  to  its  purity  by  be- 
ing holy  in  all  manner  of  conversation :  and 
this  is  a  kind  of  testimony  which  is  more  re- 
garded than  any  other.  Men  in  common  form 
their  judgments  of  religion  more  by  what  they 
see  in  the  professors  of  it,  than  by  the  profes- 

*  Isaiah,  xliv.  8. 


OF    BACKSLIDING.  77 

sion  itself.  Hence  it  was  that  David  by  his 
deed  is  said  to  have  given  great  occasion  to  the 
enemies  of  the  Lord  to  blaspheme  *  They  were 
not  contented  with  reproaching  him,  but  must 
speak  against  God  and  religion  on  his  account. 
In  this  view  he  considered  his  sin  when  he  was 
brought  to  repentance  for  it.  Against  thee, 
THEE  only  have  I  sinned,  and  done  this  evil  in  thy 
sight. — Do  good  in  thy  good  pleasure  unto  Zion  : 
build  thou  the  walls  of  Jerusalem.  If  his  sin 
had  not  greatly  dishonoured  God's  name,  and,  as 
it  were,  broken  down  the  walls  of  Zion,  such  lan- 
guage would  not  have  appeared  among  his  la- 
mentations. Things  operate  much  the  same  to 
this  day.  Whatever  evil  is  done  by  a  professor, 
it  is  ascribed  to  his  religion.  In  this  view  we 
may  justly  consider  our  unchristian  conduct  as 
bearing  false  witness  of  God ;  for  it  is  giving 

«  2  Sam.  xii.  14. 

7* 


78  DANGEROUS    EFFECTS 

false  representations  of  his  gospel  and  govern, 
ment  to  the  world.  A  grasping  selfish  spirit  is 
saying  to  those  around  us,  that,  after  all  which 
we  have  professed  of  living  by  faith  in  a  por- 
tion beyond  death,  the  present  world  is  the 
best,  and  therefore  we  are  for  making  sure  of 
that,  and  running  all  hazards  as  to  the  other. 
In  like  manner  a  cruel  and  revengeful  disposition 
towards  those  who  have  offended  us,  is  saying, 
that  Christianity,  after  all  its  professions  of  meek- 
ness  and  forgiveness  of  injuries,  renders  its  ad- 
herents no  better  than  others.  And  when  a 
christian  professor  is  detected  of  having  private- 
ly indulged  in  the  lusts  of  the  flesh,  the  conclu- 
sion  that  is  drawn  from  it  is,  that  there  is  noth- 
ing in  religion  but  outside  appearance,  and  that 
religious  people  are  the  same  as  others  in  secret. 
It  is  impossible  to  say  how  much  such  conduct 
operates  to  the  hardening  of  men  in  sin,  to  the 
quenching  of  their  convictions,  to  the  weaken- 


^  OF   BACKSLIDING.  79 

ing  of  the  hands  of  God's  servants,  and  to  tho 
stumbling  of  persons  who  are  inquiring  the  way 
to  Zion. 

These  things,  if  we  be  mere  professors,  may 
have  but  little  efiect  upon  us.  We  may  not  care 
for  God's  being  dishonoured,  provided  we  do  but 
get  pardoned  at  last :  but  if  there  be  any  true  re- 
ligion about  us,  it  will  be  otherwise.  An  ingenu. 
ous  mind  will  feel  more  for  the  dishonour  which 
he  has  done  to  Christ,  and  injury  to  his  fellow 
creatures,  than  for  the  reproach  which  he  has 
brought  upon  himself. 

Fourtlily,  We  are  in  the  utmost  danger  of 

FALLING  INTO  FUTURE  TEMPTATIONS,  AND  SO  OP 
SINKING    DEEPER,  AND    FALLING    FARTHER    FROM 

GOD. — So  long  as  sin  remains  upon  the  con- 
science unlamented,  it  is  like  poison  in  the  con- 
stitution :  it  will  be  certain  to  operate  ;  and  that 
in  a  v/ay  that  shall  go  on  more  and  more  to  kill 
all  holy  resolution,  to  harden  the  heart,  and  to 


80  1>ANGER0US     EFFECTS  0 

defile  the  imaginations  and  desires.  Whore- 
do?n  and  wine,  and  new  wine,  take  away  the  heart* 
It  is  from  sad  experience  of  the  defiling  nature 
of  post  sin,  that  David  when  he  came  to  himself 
prayed  as  he  did  ;  Create  in  me  a  clean  heart, 
O   God,  and  renew  a  right  spirit  within  me.] 

A  mind  thus  enfeebled,  stupified,  and  defiled, 
must  needs  be  in  a  very  unfit  condition  to  resist 
new  temptations.  The  inhabitants  of  a  besieg- 
ed  city,  who  are  weakened  by  famine  and  dis- 
ease, and  discouraged  by  a  number  of  disaffect- 
ed persons  within  their  walls,  have  no  heart  to 
resist,  but  stand  ready  to  listen  to  the  first  pro- 
posals of  the  besiegers. 

And  in  proportion  as  we  are  disabled  for  re- 
sistance it  may  be  expected  that  the  tempter  will 
renew  his  attempts  upon  us.  If  Satan  have  any 
influence  on  the  human  mind,  it  may  be  sup- 

»  Hos.  iv.  11,  t  Psal.  li.  10. 


OF    BACKSLIDING.  81 

posed  that  he  acts  Vvith  design,  and  knows  how 
to  avail  himself  of  the  most  favourable  seasons 
to  effect  his  purpose.  And  this  we  find  to  be  true 
by  experience.  In  proportion  as  we  have  yield- 
ed to  temptation,  it  will  rise  in  its  demands  ;  so- 
licitations, greater  in  number  and  in  force,  will 
ply  our  minds.  As  a  resistance  of  the  devil  will 
be  followed  by  his  fleeing  from  us^  so,  on  the  con- 
trary, a  non-resistance  of  him  will  be  followed 
by  renewed  and  stronger  attempts  upon  us.  One 
sin  makes  way  for  another,  and  renders  us  less 
able  to  resist,  or  to  return  to  God  by  repentance. 
When  once  the  thief  has  gained  admission  into 
our  habitation,  he  will-  bid  us  defiance.  Innu- 
meraUe  evils  will  compass  us  about,  and  our  ini- 
quities take  hold  upon  us,  so  that  we  shall  not  be 
able  to  look  up  :  they  will  be  more  than  the  hairs 
cf  our  heads ;  therefore  our  hearts  unll  fail  us* 

«  Psal.  xl,  12. 


82  DANGEROUS     EFFECTS 

Sampson  first  yielded  to  his  sensual  desires;  af- 
ter this,  to  the  intreaties  of  his  Delilah,  who  in 
proportion  as  she  saw  him  pliant  to  her  wishes, 
increased  in  her  assiduousness,  till  at  length  he 
lost  his  hair,  his  liberty,  his  eyes,  and  his  life. 

If  we  be  mere  professors,  these  considerations 
may  effect  us  but  little  :  we  shall  continue  the 
willing  slaves  of  our  own  corruptions,  hoping, 
it  may  be,  nevertheless,  that  we  shall  sometime 
be  brought  back  again,  till  at  some  unexpected 
hour  we  are  taken  out  of  the  world.  But  if 
there  be  any  good  thing  in  us  towards  the  Lord 
God  of  Israel,  this  part  of  the  subject  alarms  us : 
for  of  all  the  methods  which  God  takes  to  punish 
sin,  there  is  none  more  awful  and  more  dreaded 
by  a  good  man,  than  that  of  being  given  up  to 
sin. 

Fifthly.,  So  LONG  AS  sin  remains  upon  the 

CONSCIENCE    UNLAMENTED,    WE    ARE    IN    DANGER 

OF  ETERNAL  DAMNATION. — It  may  be  thought  by 


OF    BACKSLIDING.  83 

some  that  such  language  is  inconsistent  with  the 
final  perseverance  of  believers :  but  it  is  mani- 
fest that  our  Lord  did  not  so  teach  the  doctrine 
of  perseverance  as  to  render  cautions  of  this  na- 
ture  unneccessary.  He  did  not  scruple  to  de- 
clare, even  to  his  own  diciples,  that,  "  Whosoever 
should  say  to  his  brother,  thou  fool,  should  be  in 
danger  of  hell-fire. — That  if  they  forgave  not 
men  their  trespasses,  neither  would  God  forgive 
theirs — and  if  a  right  hand,  or  a  right  eye,  caus- 
ed them  to  offend,  it  must  be  cut  off,  or  plucked 
out,  and  that  lest  the  whole  body  should  be  cast 
into  hell."^== 

The  object  at  which  sin  aims,  whether  in  be- 
lievers or  unbelievers,  is  death,  eternal  death ;  and 
to  this  it  hath  a  natural  and  direct  tendency. 
The  apostle  James  in  a  very  affecting  manner 
describes  its  process.     "  Let  no  man  say  when 

*  Matt.  V. 


84  DANGEROUS    EFFECTS 

he  is  tempted,  I  am  tempted  of  God  :  for  God 
cannot  be  tempted  with  evil,  neither  tempteth 
he  any  man  :  but  every  man  is  tempted  when  he 
is  drawn  away  of  his  own  lust  and  enticed. 
Then  when  lust  hath  conceived,  it  bringeth  forth 
sin,  and  sin,  when  it  is  finished  bringeth  forth 
death."*  If  it  does  not  in  all  cases  come  to  this 
issue,  it  is  not  because  of  its  being  different  as 
to  its  nature  or  tendency  in  some  persons  from  what 
it  is  in  others,  but  because  a  timely  stop  is  put 
to  its  operations.  Only  let  it  go  on  without  re- 
pentance till  it  htis  finished  its  work,  and  eter- 
nal death  will  be  the  issue. 

Whatever  we  are,  so  long  as  sin  lies  unlament- 
ed  upon  the  conscience,  we  can  have  no  scrip- 
tural foundation  to  conclude  tliat  we  are  chris- 
tians. No  real  christian,  it  is  true,  will  prove 
an  apostate  ;  yet  while  we  are  under  the  influ 

*  James  i.  13 — 15. 


OF    BACKSLIDING.  85 

ence  of  sin,  we  are  moving  in  the  direction  which 
leads  to  apostacy.  If  we  are  contented  with  a 
relapsed  state  of  mind,  what  grounds  can  we 
have  to  conclude  that  it  is  not  our  element,  or 
that  we  have  ever  been  the  subjects  of  true  re- 
ligion ?  If  the  v/aters  continue  to  be  naught,  it 
is  a  sign  that  the  spring  has  not  been  healed. 
There  is  no  reason  to  think  that  Judas  himself 
laid  his  accounts  with  such  an  issue  as  things 
actually  came  to.  During  the  ministry  of  our 
Lord,  while  he  kept  the  bag,  and  sometimes 
made  free  with  its  contents,  it  is  probable  he 
nevertheless  reckoned  himself  a  good  man. 
He  saw  many  failings  in  his  fellow-disciples,  and 
in  all  other  good  men  ;  and  he  might  think  this 
to  be  his.  When  he  had  covenanted  with  the 
chief  priests,  it  does  not  appear  that  he  expect- 
ed his  master  would  be  eventually  taken  and  cru- 
cified. When  they  were  about  to  lay  hands  on 
him,  he  had  often  passed  through  the  midst  of 
8 


86  DANGEROUS   EFFECTS   ETC. 

them  and  went  his  way  ;  and  he  might  suppose 
that  it  would  be  so  again.  When  therefore  he 
saw  that  he  was  condemned^  he  was  thrown  into  a 
state  of  terrible  amazement,  and  in  the  issue 
went  and  hanged  himself.  Such  was  the  process 
of  an  ypostate  ;  and  such  his  end.  Surely  it 
behoves  us  to  take  heed  how  we  trifle  with  those 
thino;s,  the  end  of  which  is  death  ? 


MEANS    OF   RECOVERY.  87 

ON  THE  MEANS  OF  RECOVERY. 

Were  it  not  for  the  hopes  of  being  instrumen- 
tal in  saving  some  from  the  error  of  their  way, 
and  of  inducing  others  to  a  greater  degree  of 
watclifulness,  I  should  not  have  written  the  pre- 
ceding  pages.  It  can  afford  no  satisfaction  to 
expos3  the  evil  conduct  of  a  fellow-sinner,  or  to 
trace  its  dangerous  effects,  unless  it  be  with  a 
view  lo  his  salvation  or  preservation. 

It  ii  natural  for  those  who  have  fallen  into 
sin,  utless  they  be  given  up  to  a  rejection  of  all 
religioi,  to  wish,  on  some  consideration,  to  be  re- 
stored. A  backsliding  state  is  far  from  being 
agreeable.  Hence  it  is  that  many  have  prema- 
turely  grasped  at  the  promise  of  forgiveness,  and 
said  t)  their  souls.  Peace,  peace,  when  there  was 
no  peice.  It  is  desirable  that  we  be  recovered 
from  our  backslidings  ;  but  it  is  not  desirable 


98  MEANS    OP 

that  we  should  think  ourselves  recovered  when 
we  are  not  so. 

As  there  are  many  ways  by  which  a  convin- 
ced sinner  seeks  peace  to  his  soul,  without  be- 
ing able  to  find  it,  so  it  is  with  a  backslider. 
Self-righteous  attempts  to  mortify  sin,  and  gain 
peace  with  God,  are  not  confined  to  the  first  pe- 
riod of  religious  concern.  Having  througl  the 
power  of  alarm  desisted  from  the  open  practice 
of  sin,  many  have  laboured  to  derive  comfort 
from  this  consideration,  without  confessing  their 
sin  on  the  head,  as  it  were,  of  the  gospel  sacri- 
fice. Their  sins  may  be  said  rather  to  have 
been  worn  away  from  their  remembrante  by 
length  of  time,  than  washed  away  by  the  blood 
of  the  cross.  But  this  is  not  recovery;  the 
hurt,  if  healed,  is  healed  slightly  ;  and  miy  be 
expected  to  break  out  again.  The  same  way  in 
which,  if  we  be  true  christians,  we  first  found 
rest  to  our  souls  must  be  pursued  in  order  to  re- 


RECOVERY.  89 

recovsr  it ;  namely,  by  repentance  towards  God, 
and  jaitli  towards  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  This 
is  the  way  to  which  the  scriptures  uniformly  di- 
rect js.  "  My  little  children,  these  things  I 
write  unto  you,  that  ye  sin  not.  And  if  any 
man  sin,  we  have  an  advocate  with  the  Father, 
Jesus  Christ  the  righteous. — If  we  confess  our 
sins,  he  is  faithful  and  just  to  forgive  us  our  sins, 
and  to  cleanse  us  from  all  unrighteousness."  This 
was  the  way  in  which  David  was  recovered. 
He  confessed  his  sin  with  deep  contrition,  plead- 
ing to  be  purged  with  hyssop,  that  he  might  he 
clean  and  washed  that  he  might  he  whiter  than 
snow.*  By  this  language  he  could  not  mean 
that  bis  sin  should  be  purged  away  by  anything 
pertaining  to  the  ceremonial  law,  for  that  law 
made  no  provision  for  the  pardon  of  his  crimes  : 
he  must  therefore  intend  that  which  the  sprink- 

*  Psal.  li.  7. 
8* 


90  MEANS    OP 

ling  of  the  unclean  with  abunch  of  hyssop,  dipt 
in  the  water  of  purification,  was  designed  to  pre- 
figure ;  which,  as  we  are  taught  in  the  new  tes- 
tament, was  the  purging  of  the  conscience^  ly  the 
sprinkling  of  the  blood  of  Jesus* 

This  is  the  only  way  in  which  it  is  possible 
to  find  rest  to  our  souls.  As  there  is  no  other 
name  given  under  heaven,  or  among  men,  by 
which  we  can  be  saved,  so  neither  is  there  any 
other  by  which  we  can  be  restored.  Whatever 
be  the  nature  of  our  backsliding  from  God, 
this  must  be  the  remedy.  If  it  be  a  relinquish- 
ment of  evangelical  principles^  we  must  return 
to  the  way,  even  the  highway  whither  we  went. 
Paul  travailed  in  birth  for  the  recovery  of  the 
Galatians ;  and  in  what  did  he  expect  it  to 
consist  ?  In  Christ  being  formed  in  them.  He 
also  strove  to  bring  back  the  Hebrews  ;  and  all 

*  Heb.  ix.  14—28. 


RECOVERY.  91 

his  labours  were  directed  to  the  same  point. 
His  epistle  to  them  is  full  of  Christy  and  of 
warnings  and  cautions  against  neglecting  and 
rejecting  him.  If  any  man  have  been  perplex- 
ed concerning  the  deity  or  atonement  of  Christ, 
let  him  humbly  and  carefully  read  that  epistle  ; 
and  if  his  heart  be  right  with  God,  it  will  do 
him  good.  If  our  departure  from  God  have  is- 
sued in  some  gross  immorality ^  or  in  the  love  of 
the  worlds  or  in  conformity  to  ity  the  remedy  must 
be  the  same.  It  is  by  this  medium,  if  at  all, 
that  the  world  will  be  crucified  unto  us,  and  we 
unto  the  world.  If  we  have  no  heart  to  repent, 
and  return  to  God  by  Jesus  Christ,  we  are  yet 
in  our  sins,  and  may  expect  to  reap  the  fruits 
of  them.  The  scriptures  give  no  counsel  to 
anything  short  of  this.  They  are  not  wanting, 
however,  in  directions  that  may  lead  to  it,  and 
considerations  that  may  induce  it.  What  these 
are  I  shall  now  proceed  to  inquire. 


92  MEATs^S    OF 

In  general,  I  may  observe,  The  scriptures  as- 
sure  us  of  the  exceeding  great  and  tender  mercy 
of  God,  and  of  his  \mllingness  to  forgive  all  those 
who  return  to  him  in  the  Jtame  of  his  Son. — It  is 
necessary  that  we  be  well  persuaded  of  this 
truth,  lest,  instead  of  applying  as  supplicants, 
we  sink  into  despair.  If  an  awakened  sinner 
under  his  first  religious  concern  be  in  danger 
of  this  species  of  despondency,  a  backslider  is 
still  more  so.  His  transgressions  are  much 
more  heinous  in  their  circumstances  than  those 
of  the  other,  having  been  committed  under 
greater  light,  and  against  greater  goodness :  and 
when  to  this  is  added  the  treatment  which  his 
conduct  must  necessarily  draw  upon  him  from 
his  religious  connexions,  he  may  be  tempted  to 
relinquish  all  hopes  of  recovery,  and  to  consi- 
der  himself  as  an  outcast  of  both  God  and  man. 
Unhappy  man !  Thy  breach  may  be  great  like 
the  sea,  and  the  language  of  an  awakened  con- 


RECOVERY.  93^ 

science  may  suggest,  Who  can  heal  me  1  Yet 
do  not  despair.  Bear  what  God  the  Lord  will 
speak.  He  will  speak  peace  unto  his  jjeoplc)  and 
to  his  saints :  hut  let  them  not  turn  again  to  folly. 
Hear  what  he  speaks  to  the  backsliding  Israel- 
ites, reduced  by  their  sins  to  the  most  deplora- 
ble state  of  guilt  and  wretchedness.  "The 
Lord  shall  scatter  you  among  the  nations,  and 
ye  shall  be  left  few  among  the  heathen,  whither 
the  Lord  shall  lead  you.  And  there  ye  shall 
serve  gods,  the  works  of  men's  hands;  but  if 
from  thence  thou  shalt  seek  the  Lord  thy  God, 
thou  shalt  find  him,  if  thou  seek  him  with  all 
thy  heart  and  with  all  thy  soul :  when  thou  art 
in  tribulation,  and  all  these  things  are  come  up- 
on thee,  if  thou  turn  to  the  Lord  thy  God,  and 
shalt  be  obedient  unto  his  voice,  (for  the  Lord 
thy  God  is  a  merciful  God)  he  will  not  forsake 
thee,  nor  forget  the  covenant   of  thy   fathers 


94  3IEANS    OF 

which  he  sware  unto  them."*  The  pardoning 
mercy  of  God  towards  those  who  return  to  him 
by  Jesus  Christ  is  not  limited  by  such  measures 
as  are  framed  by  creatures  in  their  treatment 
of  one  another,  or  by  such  expectations  as,  on 
this  account,  they  are  apt  to  form.  Tiiere  are 
circumstances  which  may  render  it  almost  im- 
possible for  forgiveness  to  be  exercised  among 
men  ;  and  therefore  men  are  ready  to  think  it 
must  be  so  with  respect  to  God.  Bat  imth  the 
Lord  there  is  mercy.,  and  with  him  there  is  plen- 
teous redemption.  He  will  not  only  pardon,  but 
pardon  ahundantly  :  "  for  his  thoughts  are  not 
as  our  thoughts,  nor  his  ways  as  our  ways.  For 
as  the  heavens  are  higher  than  the  earth,  so  are 
his  ways  higher  than  our  ways,  and  his  thoughts 
than  our  thoughts.f — The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ 
his  Son  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin. — If  we  con- 

*  Deut.  iv.  27—31.     t  Psalm  cxxx.  7,  8.  Isaiah  Iv.  7—9. 


RECOVERS.  95 

fess  our  sins,  he  is  faithful  and  just  to  forgive  us 
our  sins,  and  to  cleanse  us  from  all  unrighteous- 
nessJ^  Tlie  threatenings  against  the  unpardona- 
hie  sin  itself  do  not  affect  the  truth  of  these 
merciful  declarations  ;  for  that  sin  is  all  along 
described  as  excluding  repentance  as  well  as  for- 
giveness.f  The  person  is  supposed  to  be  given 
up  to  hardness  of  heart.  If  therefore  we  confess 
our  sin  with  contrition,  we  may  be  certain  it  is 
not  unpardonable,  and  that  we  shall  obtain  mer- 
cy  through  the  blood  of  the  cross. 

But  the  great  question  is.  How  we  shall  repent 
of  our  sins,  and  return  to  God  hy  Jesus  Christ  ? 
Undoubtedly  it  is  much  easier  to  get  out  of  the 
way  than  to  get  in  again  ;  to  lose  the  peace  of 
our  minds  than  (o  recover  it.  Sin  is  of  a  har- 
dening nature ;  and  the  farther  we  have  pro- 
ceeded in  it,  the  more  inextricable  are  its  chains. 

*  1  John  i.  7—9.  t  Heb.  vi.  6. 


95  MEANS    OF 

But  however  this  be,  we  either  do  desire  to  re- 
turn, or  we  do  not.  I^  not,  it  will  be  in  vain  to 
address  any  directions  to  us.  It  is  right  indeed 
for  the  servants  of  Christ  to  point  them  out, 
whether  we  will  hear  or  whether  we  will  forbear ; 
and  there  leave  them  :  but  as  to  any  hope  of  our 
recovery,  while  such  is  the  state  of  our  minds, 
there  can  be  none.  If  we  can  think  of  our  sin 
without  grief,  and  of  the  cross  of  Christ  without 
any  meltings  of  spirit,  there  is  great  reason  to 
fear  that  our  hearts  are  not  right  in  the  sight  of 
God :  but  that  we  are  yet  in  the  gall  of  bitter- 
ness, and  the  bonds  of  iniquity.  If,  on  the  other 
hand,  we  do  desire  to  return  ;  if,  like  Israel  in 
the  days  of  Samuel,  we .  lament  after  the  Lord, 
we  shall  readily  hearken  to  every  direction  given 
us  in  his  word. 

If  my  reader,  supposing  him  to  have  back- 
slidden from  God,  be  in  such  a  state  of  mind,  it 
is  with  a  mixture  of  hope  and  tenderness  that  I 


RECOVERY.  ©7 

attempt  to  point  out  to  him  the  means  of  reco. 
very.  Or  should  it  even  be  otherwise,  I  will 
nevertheless  endeavour  to  show  him  the  good 
and  the  right  way,  that  at  least  I  may  deliver 
my  own  soul. 
Fi?-st,  Embrace   every  possible  season  of 

RETIREMENT  FOR  READING  THE  HOLY  SCRIP- 
TURES, especially  those  parts  which  are  suited 
to  thy  case,  and  accompany  it  with  prayer. — 
God's  word  hid  in  the  heart,  is  not  only  a  pre- 
servative against  sin,  but  a  restorative  from  it. 
It  both  wounds  and  heals :  if  it  rebukes,  it  is 
with  the  faithfulness  of  a  friend :  or  if  it  con- 
soles, its  consolations  carry  in  them  an  implica- 
tion, which,  if  properly  understood,  will  melt  us 
into  repentance. 

Read  especially  those  parts  of  scripture  which 

are  addressed  to  persons  in  your  situation ;  as  the 

second  chapter  of  Jeremiah  :  or  which  express 

the  desires  of  a  returning  sinner  ;  as  the  twen- 

9 


9S  MEANS   OF 

ty-fifth,  thirty-second,  thirty-eighth,  fifty-first, 
and  hundred-and-thirtieth  psalms.  You  may 
not  be  able  to  adopt  all  this  language  as  your 
own ;  but  it  may  be  useful  nevertheless.  To 
read  the  genuine  expressions  of  a  contrite  heart, 
may  produce  at  least  a  conviction  of  the  dispar- 
ity between  the  frame  of  mind  possessed  by 
the  writer  and  yourself :  and  such  a  conviction 
may  be  accompanied  with  a  sensation  of  shame 
and  grief. 

It  is  also  of  importance  that  you  read  the 
scriptures  hy  yourself.  To  read  a  portion  of 
them  in  your  families  is  right,  and  ought  not  to 
be  neglected  ;  but  there  is  a  wide  difference,  as 
to  personal  advantage,  between  this  and  reading 
them  alone.  Your  mind  may  then  be  more  at 
liberty  for  reflection  ;  you  can  read,  and  pause, 
and  think,  and  apply  the  subject  to  your  case. 

It  is  of  still  greater  importance  to  unite  pray- 
er  vnth  it,     Reading  the  word  of  God  and  pray- 


RECOVERY  99 

er,  are  duties  which  mutually  assist  each  other ; 
the  one  furnisheth  us  with  confessions,  pleas, 
and  arguments,  while  the  other  promotes  solem- 
nity and  spiritually  of  mind,  which  goes  farther 
towards  understanding  the  scriptures,  than  a  li- 
brary of  expositions. 

It  was  in  one  of  these  seasons  of  retirement 
that  David  put  up  this  petition,  "  I  have  gone  a- 
stray  like  a  lost  sheep  :  seek  thy  servant ;  for  I  do 
not  forget  thy  commandments."*  He  seems  to 
have  had  in  his  thoughts  the  condition  of  a  poor 
wandering  sheep,  that  had  left  the  flock,  and  the 
rich  pastures  whither  it  was  wont  to  be  led  ; 
ranging  rather  like  a  native  of  the  woods,  than 
one  which  had  been  led,  and  fed,  and  protected 
by  its  owner.  Bewildered  by  its  own  wander- 
ings, entangled  in  the  thorns  and  briars  of  the 
wilderness,   and   exposed  to  beasts  of  prey,  it 

*  Psalm  cxix.  176. 


100  MEANS    OP 

feels  its  forlorn  condition,  and  bleats  after  the 
shepherd  and  the  flock !  Is  there  nothing  in  this 
that  may  suit  thy  case  ?  Yes,  thou  art  the  man  ! 
Thou  hast  gone  astray  like  a  lost  sheep,  got  en- 
tangled in  thine  own  corruptions,  and  knowest 
not  how  to  find  the  way  back  :  yet  it  may  be 
thou  hast  not  forgotten  his  commandments^  not  ut- 
terly  lost  the  savour  of  those  happy  days  when 
walking  in  them.  Let  thy  prayer  then  be  di- 
rected like  that  of  the  Psalmist,  to  the  good 
shepherd  of  the  sheep,  Seek  thy  servant ! 

Prayer  is  a  kind  of  religious  exercise  which  is 
necessary  to  accompany  all  others.  "  In  every- 
thing by  prayer  and  supplication,  with  thanks, 
giving,  let  your  requests  be  made  known  unto 
God."  Solemn  approaches  unto  God  are  adapt- 
ed to  impress  the  mind  with  a  sense  of  sin,  and 
to  inspire  us  with  self-abhorrence  on  account  of 
it.  It  was  by  a  view  of  the  holiness  of  God  that 
Isaiah  felt  himself  to  be  a  man  of  unclean  lips ; 


RECOVERY.  101 

and  by  conversing  with  him  that  Job  was  brought 
to  ahhor  himself  and  repent  in  dust  and  ashes. 
The  very  exercise  of  prayer  carries  in  it  an  im- 
plication  that  our  help  must  come  from  above ;  a 
truth  which  in  all  cases  it  is  highly  necessary 
for  us  to  know,  and  with  which,  in  this  case  es- 
pecially,  we  cannot  be  too  deeply  impressed. 
We  easily  get  out  of  the  way  ;  but  if  ever  we 
return  to  it,  it  must  be  by  his  influence  who 
restoreth  our  souls,  and  leadeth  us  in  the  paths  of 
righteousness,  for  his  name  sake* 

To  tell  a  person  who  is  out  of  the  way,  that 
he  has  no  help  of  himself,  and  that  if  ever  he 
get  in  again  it  must  be  by  the  restoring  grace  of 
God,  may  seem  to  some  people  paradoxical  and 
disheartening :  but  it  is  a  truth,  and  a  truth 
which  if  properly  understood  and  felt,  would  go 
farther  towards  our  recovery  than  we  at  first  may 
apprehend.  Paul  found  that  when  he  was  weak 
then  was  he  strong ;  and  many  others  have  found 
9* 


102  MEANS    OP 

the  same.  The  more  we  are  emptied  of  self- 
sufficiency,  the  more  sensibly  shall  we  feel  our 
dependence,  and  the  more  importunately  implore 
that  the  Lord  would  save  us  as  it  were  from  our- 
selves, and  restore  us  for  his  name  sake. 

This  was  the  way  in  which  we  at  first  found 
rest  for  our  souls,  and  this  must  be  the  way  in 
which  we  recover  it.  An  awakened  sinner  fre- 
quently labours  hard  after  peace,  without  being 
able  to  obtain  it.  Wherefore  ?  "  Because  he 
seeks  it  not  by  faith,  but  as  it  were  by  the  works 
of  the  law,  stumbling  at  the  stumbling-stone." 
In  all  his  labours  there  is  a  large  portion  of  self- 
righteous  hope,  or  an  idea  that  God  will  pity 
him  on  account  of  his  painful  endeavours  to 
please  him.  But  this  is  like  bad  flesh  in  a 
wound,  which  must  be  eaten  out  before  it  can  be 
healed.  If  ever  he  obtain  peace,  it  must  be  by 
utterly  desparing  of  all  help  from  himself,  and 
falling,  as  a  sinner  entirely  lost,  into  the  arms 


HECOVERY.  103 

of  sovereign  mercy.  This  is  walking  in  the  good 
old  "Joay,  which  brings  rest  to  the  soul :  and  the 
same  sense  of  our  insufficiency  which  is  neces- 
sary to  find  rest  in  the  first  instance,  is  equally 
necessary  to  find  it  in  all  that  follow. 

We  may  pray  from  year  to  year,  and  all  with- 
out effect.  It  is  only  the  prayer  of  faith  that 
succeeds ;  the  distinguishing  characteristic  of 
which  is,  under  a  sense  of  there  being  no  heJp 
in  us,  to  lay  hold  of  the  mercy  and  faithfulness 
of  God,  as  revealed  in  the  gospel.  David  for  a 
time  groanedy  and  even  roared,  by  reason  of  the 
disquietness  of  his  heart:  but  he  obtained  no  re- 
lief from  this.  On  the  contrary,  he  sunk  deeper 
and  deeper  into  despondency.  At  length  he 
betook  him  to  another  manner  of  praying.  Out 
of  the  DEPTHS  CRIED  I  UNTO  THEE  :  and  thou 
heardest  my  voice  !  We  find  him  here  pleading 
the  exceeding  greatness  of  God^s  mercy,  and  the 


104  MEANS    OF 

plenteousness  of  his  redemption*  Here  he  found 
rest  for  his  soul ! — ^Jonah  also  for  a  time  was  in 
much  the  same  state.  With  a  conscience  so  far 
awakened  as  to  deprive  him  of  all  enjoyment, 
he  retired  to  the  bottom  of  the  ship  ;  and  wea- 
ried  with  the  load  of  his  guilt,  slept  away  his 
time.  Even  the  horrors  of  a  tempest  did  not 
awaken  him.  At  length  being  roused,  and  re- 
proved by  heathens,  and  marked  out  by  lot  as 
the  guilty  person,  he  confesses  who  he  is,  and 
what  he  had  done,  and  advises  them  to  cast  him 
into  the  sea.  Humanity  struggles  for  a  time 
with  the  elements,  but  in  vain ;  he  must  be  cast 
away.  Think  what  a  state  of  mind  he  must  at 
this  time  have  possessed  !  He  is  thrown  into 
the  deep,  is  swallowed  by  a  fish,  and  retains  his 
reason  even  in  that  situation ;  but  no  light 
shines  upon  his  soul.     Conceiving  himself  to  be 

*  Psalm  xxxviii.  and  cxxx. 


RECOVERY.  105" 

on  the  point  of  expiring,  his  heart  sighed  with- 
in  him,  /  am  cast  out  of  thy  sight !  But  ere  the 
thought  had  well  passed  his  mind,  another  struck 
him, — Yet  will  I  look  again  towards  thy  holy 
temple !  He  looked,  and  was  lightened :  Out 
of  the  belly  of  hell  cried  I  unto  thee,  and  thou 
heardest  my  voice  I 

Secondly,  Reflect    on    the    aggravating 

CIRCUMSTANCES  OF  THINE  OFFENCES,  OrjDU  tllOSC 

things  which  render  it  an  evil  and  hitter  thing 
to  have  departed  from  the  living  God,  and  to 
have  sinned  against  him  in  the  manner  thou 
hast  done. — Every  return  to  God  begins  with 
reflection.  "  I  thought  on  my  ways,  and  turn- 
ed my  feet  unto  thy  testimonies. — Commune 
with  thine  own  heart  upon  thy  bed,  and  be 
still."*  "If  the  God  against  whom  I  have  sin- 
ned  had  been  like    the  idols  of  this   world,  I 

*  Psalm  cxix.  59.  iv.  4. 


106  MEANS    OF 

might  have  been  justified  in  departing  from  him  . 
but  I  have  acted  the  part  of  the  backsliding  Is- 
raelites, who  were  the  only  people  who  had  a 
God  worth  cleaving  to,  and  yet  were  the  only 
people  distinguished  by  their  fickleness.  The 
world  cleave  close  enough  to  their  gods,  which 
yet  are  no  gods  :  but  I  have  committed  those 
two  evils  at  which  the  heavens  are  astonished. 
I  have  ^saken  the  fountain  of  living  waters, 
and  hewed  to  myself  cisterns,  broken  cisterns 
that  can  hold  no  water !  If  the  service  of  the 
Lord  had  been  a  heavy  yoke,  and  if  the  way  of 
his  commandments  had  been  an  unfruitful  and 
miserable  path,  I  might  have  some  plea  for  de- 
serting it :  but  what  have  I  gained  except  guilt, 
and  shame,  and  wretchedness,  by  leaving  him  ? 
Was  he  a  barren  wilderness  to  me,  or  a  land  of 
darkness  ?  How  can  I  answer  his  tender,  yet 
cutting  expostulations — "  O   my  people,  what 


RECOVERY.  107 

have  I  done  unto  thee  :  wherein  have  I  wearied 
thee  ?     Testify  against  me  ! " 

"  If  I  had  been  born  and  educated  a  benight- 
ed pagan,  a  deluded  mahomedan,  or  a  supersti- 
tious papist :  if  the  oracles  of  God  had  been 
withheld  from  me  ;  or  if  I  had  lived  all  my  days 
in  a  state  of  ignorance  and  insensibility,  like 
multitudes  in  my  native  country,  the  sins  that 
I  have  committed  had  been  little  in  comparison 
of  what  they  now  are.  I  have  verged  near  to 
the  unpardonable  sin.  It  is  against  light  and 
love  that  I  have  offended.  He  has  been  as  a 
husband  unto  me ;  but  I  have  forsaken  him, 
and  have  gone  after  other  lovers.  Yet  he  still 
invites  me  to  return.  And  what  hindereth  1  I 
am  not  straitened  in  him,  but  in  my  own 
bowels.  Lord  save  me  from  myself !  Surely  I 
mil  return  to  my  first  husband,  for  then  was  it 
better  with  me  than  now." 

Thirdly,  Reflect  on  the  goodness  of  God 


108  MEAKS    OF 

IN    HAVING    HITHERTO     BORNE    WITH    THL'E,  and 

prevented  thy  sins  from  fully  operating  accord- 
ing to  their  native  tendency. — It  is  a  common 
observation  that  one  sin  leads  on  to  another. 
Of  this  history  and  experience  furnish  many 
tragical  examples.  The  sauntering  indolence 
of  David  occasioned  his  adultery.  Adultery 
when  committed  must  be  concealed,  and  this 
leads  to  treachery  and  intrigue.  When  these 
fail,  recourse  is  had  to  murder.  And  when  the 
murder  is  effected,  to  carry  on  the  concealment 
the  event  must  be  attributed  to  providence — 
The  sword  devoureth  one  as  well  as  another  !  The 
connexion  between  uncleanness  and  blood  is 
strongly  marked  in  the  history  of  human  crimes. 
A  large  proportion  of  those  who  have  been  pub- 
licly executed  for  the  one,  were  induced  to  per- 
petrate the  horrid  deed  as  a  covert  to  the  other. 
And  hast  thou  been  tampering  with  these  vices; 
playing  at  the  hole   of  the  cockatrice   den? 


RECOVERY.  10!^ 

How  is  it  that  death  and  hell  have  not  ere  now 
swallowed  thee  up  ?  Behold  that  wretch  who 
went  but  yesterday  to  suffer  the  just  vengeance 
of  his  country,  for  having  murdered  the  object 
whom  he  had  first  seduced  ;  and  see  what  thou 
mightest  have  been !  Is  it  not  owing  to  singu- 
lar mercy  that  thy  sins  have  been  restrained 
from  their  wonted  and  deadly  issues  1 

It  may  be,  some  who  have  been  companions, 
or  at  least  cotemporaries,  with  thee  in  the  first 
stages  of  sin,  have  meanwhile  been  sufiered  to 
make  more  rapid  progress.  Their  follies  have 
ended  in  infamy,  while  thine  have  been  restrain, 
ed,  and  comparatively  hid.  And  it  is  possible, 
while  the  public  voice  has  been  ra?ised  against 
them,  thou  hast  joined  it. 

"  And  thinkest  thou  this,  O  man,  that  judgest 

them  which  do  such  things,  and  doest  the  same, 

that  thou  shalt  escape  the  judgment  of  God  ? 

Or  despisest  thou  the  riches  of  his  g-oodneas, 

10 


110  3IEAKS    OF 

and  forbearance,  and  long-suffering,  not  know- 
ing  that  the  goodness  of  God  leadeth  thee  to 
repentance  1"  If  the  recollection  of  such  things 
leadeth  thee  not  to  repentance,  it  is  a  dark  sign 
of  "  a  hard  and  impenitent  heart  treasuring  up 
to  itself  wrath  against  the  day  of  wrath,  and  re- 
velation of  the  righteous  judgment  of  God." 

Fourthly^  Reflect   on  the  state  and  ex- 
ercises    OF    THY     MIND    IN    FORMER    TIMES. 

This  was  the  counsel  of  the  apostle  to  the  He- 
brews, who,  disheartened  by  persecution,  were 
half  inclined  to  go  back  again  to  Judaism  :  "  Call 
to  remembrance  the  former  days,  in  which,  after 
that  ye  were  illuminated,  ye  endured  a  great 
iight  of  afflictions."  This  was  the  counsel  of 
our  Lord  himself,  to  the  churches  of  Ephesus 
and  Sardis  :  "  Remember  from  whence  thou  art 
fallen,  and  repent — remember  how  thou  hast 
received  and  heard,  and  hold  fast,  and  repent."* 

*  Heb.  X.  31.    Rev.  ii.  5.  iii,  3. 


RECOVERY.  Ill 

Ask  thine  own  soul,  "  Are  there  no  seasons  of 
tenderness  in  my  life  which  it  would  be  for  my 
profit  to  recall  to  mind  ?  I  have  professed  re- 
pentance towards  God,  and  faith  towards  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ :  and  was  it  only  a  profes- 
sion  ?  Was  there  not  a  time  when  ni}'"  sins 
were  more  bitter  to  me  than  death,  and  more 
dreaded  than  hell  ?  How  is  it  that  I  have  turn- 
ed  again  to  folly  ?  Has  sin  changed  its  nature, 
or  become  less  odious  ?  Rather  is  not  the 
change  in  me?  Was  there  not  a  time  when 
the  word  of  the  Lord  was  precious  to  my  soul ; 
when  m.y  sabbaths  were  my  happiest  days,  and 
godly  people  my  chosen  companions  ?  Whence 
this  lamentable  change  ?  Is  Christ  or  the  gos- 
pel  less  precious  than  heretofore  ?  I  once 
thought  that  if  I  might  but  be  found  in  him, 
and  live  for  ever  with  him  and  those  that  love 
him,  I  should  not  care  what  I  lost  or  suffered  in 
the  present  world.     And  was  I  all  this  time  de- 


112  MEANS    OF 

ceiving  myself?  Were  my  repentance,  and 
faith,  and  hope,  and  love,  and  joy,  all  counter- 
feit ?  I  endured  reproaches  and  losses,  as  I  sup- 
posed, for  his  name  sake  ;  and  is  it  all  m  vain  ? 
Must  I  at  last  be  separated  for  ever  from  him, 
and  have  my  portion  with  unbelievers?  'O 
Lord,  have  mercy  upon  me  a  most  wretched 
caitiff  and  miserable  sinner  !  I  have  offended 
both  against  heaven  and  earth  more  than  my 
tongue  can  express  !  Whither  then  may  I  go, 
or  whither  shall  I  flee  ?  To  heaven  I  may  be 
ashamed  to  lift  up  mine  eyes,  and  on  earth  I 
find  no  place  of  refuge,  or  succour.  To  thee, 
therefore,  O  Lord,  do  I  run  :  to  thee  do  I  hum- 
ble myself.  O  Lord,  my  God,  my  sins  are 
great :  but  yet  have  mercy  upon  me,  for  thy 
great  mercy.  The  great  mystery,  that  God 
became  man,  was  not  wrought  for  small  or  few 
offences.  Thou  didst  not  give  thy  Son  unto 
death  for  little  sins  only  :  but  for  all  the  great- 


RECOVERY.  113 

est  sins  of  the  world,  so  that  the  sinner  returns 
to  thee  with  his  whole  heart,  as  I  do  here  at 
this  present.  Wherefore  have  mercy  on  me,  O 
God,  whose  property  is  always  to  have  mercy. 
Have  mercy  upon  me,  O  Lord,  for  thy  great 
mercy.  O  Lord,  I  crave  nothing  for  my  own 
merits,  but  for  thy  name  sake,  that  it  might  be 
hallowed  thereby,  and  for  thy  dear  Son  Jesus 
Christ's  sake.'"* 

This  part  of  our  Lord's  counsel  would  apply 
not  only  to  those  who  have  fallen  into  gross  im- 
moralities, but  to  such  as  have  deserted  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  gospel.  It  was  asked  the  Galatians, 
through  what  medium  it  was  that  they  first  re- 

*  That  which  is  included  in  inverted  commas  is  a  part 
of  the  prayer  of  Archbishop  Cranmer,  who,  through  fear 
of  man,  had  denied  his  faith,  but  was  notwithstanding 
burned  to  death.  When  brought  to  execution,  whieh 
was  at  Oxford,  on  March  21,  1556,  he  uttered  the  above 
prayer  ;  and  on  the  flames  approaching  him,  first  thrust 
into  the  fire  the  hand  with  which  he  had  signed  his  re- 
cantation. 

10* 


114  HEANS    OP 

ceived  the  Spirit ;  hy  the  works  of  the  law^  or  by 
the  hearing  of  faith  ?*  This  question  proceeds 
upon  the  principle  of  that  being  the  true  doctrine 
which  is  productive  of  the  best  effects ;  and  by 
the  manner  in  which  it  is  introduced,  This  only 
would  I  learn  of  you,  it  is  intimated  that  the  so- 
lution is  of  itself  sufficient  to  determine  what 
the  true  doctrine  is.  And  what  are  the  effects 
produced  by  a  relinquishment  of  the  doctrines 
usually  denominated  evangelical  ?  Nay,  I  might 
say,  by  only  a  hesitation  concerning  them  ?  I 
appeal  to  those  who  have  made  the  trial.  Have 
you  the  same  joy  and  peace  in  believing  in  your 
present  principles,  as  you  had  in  your  former 
ones  ?  Can  you,  or  do  you  go  to  a  throne  of 
grace  with  the  same  holy  freedom  as  heretofore  ? 
Do  you  feel  an  equal  concern  for  the  salvation 
of  your  poor   ungodly  neighbours  ?     Rather  is 

*  Gal  ui.  2. 


KECOVERY.  115 

not  the  fad*  greater  part  of  your  zeal  consumed 
in  labouring  to  make  proselytes  of  serious  chris. 
tians  to  your  new  way  of  thinking  ?  Does  the 
society  of  those  who  are  like  minded  with  your- 
self, afford  that  inward  satisfaction  which  you 
once  enjoyed  in  the  fellowship  of  those  whom 
you  are  now  taught  to  pity  as  enthusiasts  ?  If 
while  professing  those  things  you  are  strangers 
to  them,  you  may  answer  these  questions  in  the 
affirmative :  but  if  otherwise,  you  could  not. 
"Remember  from  whence  you  are  fallen,  and 
repent !  Remember  how  you  have  received  and 
heard,  and  hold  fast,  and  repent ! 

Fifthly  J  Set  apart  special  times  to  humble 

YOURSELF  BEFORE  GoD  BY  FASTING  AND  PRAYER. 

— Extraordinary  cases  require  the  use  of  extra- 
ordinary means.  When  a  great  army  was  com- 
ing against  Jehoshaphat,  it  is  said,  hefeared^  and 
SET  HIMSELF  to  Seek  the  Lord,  and  proclaimed  a 


116  MEANS    OF 

fast  throughout  all  Judah*  But  the  loss  of  a 
soul  is  of  more  account  to  you  than  the  tempo- 
ral overthrow  of  a  country  was  to  him.  When 
Judah  for  its  backslidings  was  under  the  frowns 
of  God  in  Babylon,  and  had  been  so  for  about 
seventy  years,  Daniel  says,  I  set  my  face  unto 
the  Lord  God,  to  seek  hy  prayer  and  supplication^ 
with  fasting  and  sacTtcloth  and  ashes. \  The  apos- 
tle Paul  plainly  intimates  that  there  are  times 
wherein  we  are  required  to  give  ourselves  to  fast' 
ing  and  prayer.X  And  surely  there  can  be  no 
times  in  which  these  means  are  more  necessary 
than  when  we  have  got  out  of  the  way,  and  de- 
sire to  recover  it.  There  is  much  meaning  in 
the  words,  He  set  himself  to  seek  the  Lord^  and 
I  SET  MY  FACE  unto  the  Lord  God.  They  de- 
note something  more  than  the  extraordinary  ex. 
ercises  of  prayer ;  even  a  special  fixedness  of 

«  2  Chron.  xx.  3.    t  Dan.  ix.  3.    XI  Cor.  vii.  3. 


RECOVERY.  117 

the  thought^!,  purposes,  and  desires,  to  particu- 
lar objects  :  and  God  has  usually  honoured  those 
extraordinary  approaches  to  him,  when  influenc- 
ed by  a  pure  motive,  with  success.  It  is  true, 
we  may  attend  to  duty  in  a  superstitious,  or  self- 
righteous  spirit ;  resting  in  it  as  an  end,  instead 
of  using  it  as  a  means:  but  this  is  not  setting 
our  face  u7ito  the  Lord  God,  or  seeking  him,  A 
day  devoted  to  God  in  humiliation,  fasting  and 
prayer,  occasionally  occupied  with  reading  suit- 
able parts  of  the  holy  scriptures,  may,  by  the 
blessing  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  contribute  more  to 
the  subduing  of  sin,  and  the  recovery  of  a  right 
mind,  than  years  spent  in  a  sort  of  half-hearted 
exercises. 

Sixthly,  To  PRAYER  IT  IS  NECESSARY  TO    ADD 

WATCHFULNESS. — Our  Lord  unites  these  togeth- 
er as  an  antidote  against  temptation.  It  has 
sometimes  been  one  of  the  devices  of  Satan,  af- 
ter a  backslider  has  been  drawing  near  to  God, 


118  MEANS    OF 

and  strongly  soliciting  for  mercy ;  yea,  after  a 
time  has  been  set  apart  for  this  pm-pose,  to  ply 
him  afresh  with  some  powerful  temptation  :  and 
while  his  mind  has  been  unsuspicious,  and  it  may 
be  thinking  itself  to  be  somewhat  secure  on  ac- 
count of  having  so  lately  been  engaged  in  earn- 
est devotion,  he  has  been  surprised,  and  over- 
come !  The  consequence,  as  might  be  expected 
has  been,  a  future  neglect  of  prayer,  under  the 
idea  that  it  must  have  been  mere  hypocrisy  be- 
fore, and  would  now  be  adding  sin  to  sin.  In- 
stead of  depending  upon  spiritual  frames  for 
preservation,  and  especially  when  they  are  over, 
perhaps  we  ought  to  expect  that  our  comforts 
should  be  succeeded  by  conflicts.  We  know  it 
was  so  in  several  cases  recorded  in  the  scriptures. 
Immediately  after  drinking  at  the  smitten  rock 
at  Rephidim,  Israel  was  called  to  fight  with 
Amalek.  Paul's  thorn  in  the  flesh  succeeded  to 
extraordinary   revelations.     Our  Lord   himself 


RECOVERY,  119 

went  up  from  Jordan  into  the  wilderness  to  be 
tempted  of  the  devil. 

Seventhly/,  In  your  approaches  to  the  Sa- 
viour, LET  IT  BE  UNDER  THE  CHARACTER  IN 
WHICH    YOU  FIRST  APPLIED  TO  HIM   FOR    MERCY, 

THAT  OF  A  SINNER. — If  you  attempt  to  approach 
the  throne  of  grace  as  a  good  man  who  has 
backslidden  from  Godi  you  may  find  it  impossible 
to  support  that  character.  The  reality  of  your 
conversion  may  be  doubtful,  not  only  in  your  ap- 
prehension, but  in  itself.  Your  approach,  there- 
fore, must  not  be  as  one  that  is  washed,  and  need- 
eth  not,  save  to  wash  his  feet :  but  as  one  who  is 
defiled  throughout,  luhose  hands  and  head,  and 
every  part  needs  to  be  cleansed.  Do  not  employ 
yourself  in  raking  over  the  rubbish  of  your  past 
life  in  search  of  evidence  that  your  are  a  chris- 
tian. You  will  not  be  able  in  your  present  state 
of  mind  to  decide  that  question  :  nor  would  it 
be  of  any  service  to  you  if  you  could  decide  it 


120  3IEANS    OF 

One  thing  is  certain  ;  you  are  a  sinner,  a  poor 
miserable  perishing  sinner :  the  door  of  mercy 
is  open  ;  and  you  are  welcome  to  enter  it.  Let 
your  past  character  then  have  been  what  it  may, 
and  let  your  conversion  be  ever  so  doubtful,  if 
you  can  from  this. time  relinquish  all  for  Christ, 
eternal  life  is  before  you. 

The  Laodiceans,  who,  though  composing  a 
christian  church,  were  doubtful  characters,  are 
counselled  to  deal  with  Christ  in  the  same  man- 
ner as  sinners  deal  with  him,  for  riches,  for  right- 
eousness^ and  for  heavenly  wisdom. 

Lastly,  In  all  your  supplications,  be  con- 
tented  WITH  NOTHING   SHORT   OF  A   COMPLETE 

RECOVERY. — It  is  possible  you  may  obtain  so 
much  ascendency  over  your  evil  propensities  that 
they  may  seem  to  be  slain  before  you  ;  or  at 
least,  that  you  are  in  no  particular  danger  of 
yielding  to  them  any  more  ;  and  yet  you  may 
not  have  recovered  that  holy  rest  in  God,  that 


RECOVERY.  121 

sweet  peace  which  arises  from  confessing  our 
sins  upon  the  head  of  the  gospel  sacrifice.  But 
while  this  is  the  case  there  is  no  security  against 
their  revival.  The  first  temptation  by  which 
you  are  assaulted  may  afford  lamentable  proof 
that  they  are  yet  alive.  Nothing  will  serve  as 
a  preservative  against  the  risings  of  evil  propen- 
sities short  of  walking  with  God.  There  is  much 
important  truth  in  that  declaration  of  the  apostle, 
This  I  say  then,  walk  in  the  spirit,  and  ye  shall 
not  fulfil  the  lusts  of  the  fesh.*  Sin  is  not  to 
be  opposed  so  much  directly  as  indirectly  ;  not 
by  mere  resistance,  but  by  opposing  other  princi- 
ples to  it.  It  is  not  by  contending  with  the  fire, 
especially  with  combustible  materials  about  us, 
that  we  should  be  able  to  quench  it ;  but  by 
dealing  plentifully  with  the  opposite  element. 
The  pleasures  of  sense  will  not  be  effectually 

*  Gal.  V.  IG. 
11 


122  MEANS    OF 

subdued  by  foregoing  all  enjoyment ;  but  by  im- 
bibing other  pleasures,  the  relish  of  which  shall 
deaden  the  heart  to  what  is  opposite.  It  was 
thus  that  the  apostle  became  dead  to  the  world  by 
the  cross  of  Christ.  Do  not  therefore  reckon 
thyself  restored  till  thou  hast  recovered  com- 
munion with  God.  David,  though  the  subject 
of  deep  contrition,  yet  was  not  contented  with- 
out gaining  this  important  point.  Till  then  the 
poison  would  still  at  times  be  rankling  in  his  im- 
agination. Hence  arose  the  following  petitions 
— Create  in  me  a  clean  heart,  O  God,  and  renew  a 
right  spirit  within  me.  Cast  me  not  away  from 
thy  presence  ;  and  take  not  thy  Holy  Spirit  from 
me.  Restore  unto  me  the  joy  of  thy  salvation  ; 
and  vphold  me  with  thy  free  Spirit*  Make  these 
petitions  thy  own  :  and  if  God  grant  the  thing 
that  thine  heart  desireth,  go  and  sin  no  more, 
lest  a  worse  thing  come  upon  thee  ! 

'  *  Psalm   li.  10—12. 


\ 


•:  . 


Princeton  Theological  Seminary-Speer 


1    1012  01005  4122 


^w^^^'^^mmm. 


